Ebola outbreak in DR Congo claims over 5,000 lives, spreads to three countries
More than 5,000 people have died in the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), according to government figures.
The disease has spread to eight of the country’s 26 provinces, with more than 10,300 confirmed infections recorded.
The outbreak, which began in May, became the deadliest in DR Congo’s history in August, according to public health officials. The current fatality rate stands at 48.6%.
In its latest update, the Ministry of Health said Ituri Province in the north-eastern part of the country remains the epicentre of the outbreak. The region is also affected by conflict, making efforts to contain the virus more difficult.
Ebola cases have also been confirmed in Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda.
According to the United Nations (UN), this is the 17th Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and the second largest recorded globally.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa has called for an intensified response, including expanded control measures, improved access to affected communities and increased public awareness campaigns.
It said testing and treatment efforts were ongoing, alongside clinical trials of potential vaccines.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which no approved treatment or vaccine is currently available.
DR Congo’s previous deadliest outbreak occurred between 2018 and 2020, claiming 2,299 lives, according to the UN.
The deadliest Ebola epidemic in history occurred in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, killing more than 11,325 people and spreading to several countries, including Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, according to the WHO.
The UN has warned that the current outbreak is claiming lives at a significantly faster rate.
Ebola is a rare but highly deadly viral disease characterised by the sudden onset of symptoms.
As the illness progresses, patients may develop vomiting and diarrhoea, which can lead to organ failure. Some infected individuals also experience internal and external bleeding.
The virus spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, including blood and vomit.
Efforts to contain the disease have also been complicated by attacks on health workers and individuals involved in public health campaigns.
Earlier this week, a nurse was killed and another health worker seriously injured in an attack while responding to an Ebola alert. According to the UN-backed Radio Okapi, local youths accused the workers of contaminating water sources and spreading the virus.
Last month, a politician was beaten to death after advocating measures to prevent the spread of Ebola. In August, the Red Cross reported that its volunteers had been injured and an ambulance set ablaze in 11 separate violent incidents during the first 100 days of the outbreak.
In Uganda, two people died and 20 cases were recorded shortly after the outbreak began. However, no new cases have been reported since August. Travel restrictions remain in place for people crossing into the country from neighbouring DR Congo.
Kenya has recorded nine confirmed cases and two deaths.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s disease control centre announced on Saturday that two suspected cases had been identified. The individuals have been isolated and are undergoing testing.
Earlier in October, a woman tested positive for Ebola in Nigeria and was subsequently flown to Switzerland for further medical treatment.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has assessed the risk of infection among the general population in Europe as “very low”.
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