KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – Since the outbreak’s onset, Ebola has claimed more lives than any previous incident in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Official figures as of Aug. 16 indicate 4,945 confirmed cases and 2,325 fatalities. Over the last 24 hours, health authorities documented 101 new confirmed infections. The death toll has now eclipsed the 2,299 lives lost during the Ebola outbreak from 2018 to 2020.
In recent days, concerns have intensified as the number of infections and deaths continues to grow in eastern DRC. United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher reported that the virus is killing one individual every 30 minutes. Since the official declaration of the outbreak in May, the disease has spread at an unprecedented rate. By late July, confirmed cases had already exceeded the total recorded during the 2018 to 2020 outbreak, making this the largest Ebola epidemic in the country’s history by case count.
The authorities announced the outbreak on May 15 after laboratory testing confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak documented in the DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976. The World Health Organization designated the situation as a public health emergency of international concern on May 17. Currently, no approved vaccine or specific treatment exists for Bundibugyo virus disease. Medical teams are relying on early detection, supportive care, isolation, contact tracing, and infection control to manage the crisis.
Six provinces affected as cases surge, outbreak expands
By Aug. 12, the outbreak had extended into 54 health zones across six provinces, namely Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé. The latest province to be affected was Bas-Uélé, following confirmation of a case in the Buta health zone. The patient had traveled from Haut-Uélé prior to developing symptoms. Ituri remained the epicenter, accounting for approximately 85% of the confirmed cases nationwide at that point.
The epidemic has also impacted healthcare workers, adding further strain to already overwhelmed medical facilities. By Aug. 9, authorities had confirmed at least 155 infections among health workers, including 45 deaths. As of Aug. 12, 965 patients had recovered in the DRC. Over 17,000 of the roughly 20,700 contacts identified during the latest reporting period were monitored by health teams. Difficulties stemming from insecurity, population displacement, and attacks on health infrastructure have hampered efforts in surveillance, treatment, and contact tracing.
Response efforts intensify amid record-high death toll
In response to the escalating crisis, national health authorities have expanded testing, surveillance, and treatment capabilities across the affected regions. Teams are also providing training for medical personnel and reinforcing infection prevention measures within health facilities. Ongoing efforts include contact tracing, laboratory testing, safe burial practices, and community outreach initiatives. Researchers are exploring experimental vaccines and therapies, but none have yet gained approval for the Bundibugyo strain. A clinical trial for potential treatments began enrolling confirmed cases in Ituri back in July as part of the expanded emergency response.
Additionally, the outbreak has led to confirmed infections outside the DRC. Uganda has reported 20 cases and two deaths, with authorities maintaining enhanced surveillance after discharging their last patient in July. France also identified one imported case without documented secondary transmission. Currently, the DRC’s Ebola epidemic ranks second globally in total deaths, trailing only the 2014 to 2016 West Africa outbreak, which resulted in 11,310 deaths and 28,616 cases across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.