DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Surpasses 11,000 Cases

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has recorded more than 11,000 confirmed Ebola cases in its worst-ever outbreak of the disease, with ongoing armed conflict disrupting efforts to contain the spread.

Figures released by the country’s National Institute of Public Health on Wednesday showed that the outbreak has infected 11,042 people and killed 5,387 others.

About 2,990 patients have recovered.

The outbreak, the 17th recorded in the DRC, was officially declared in May, although health experts believe the virus may have been circulating for weeks or months before its confirmation.

Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people and can cause severe haemorrhagic fever. The disease has claimed more than 15,000 lives across Africa over the past five decades.

Before the current outbreak, the DRC’s deadliest recorded episode occurred between 2018 and 2020, when nearly 2,300 people died from about 3,500 cases.

The latest outbreak was first detected in Ituri province in northeastern DRC before spreading to seven other provinces.

Ituri and neighbouring North Kivu account for most of the reported infections.

Cases have also been identified in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments.

In October, the World Health Organization(WHO) announced plans to conduct a full human trial of Ervebo, a vaccine approved for the Zaire strain, in the DRC to determine whether it could provide protection against the Bundibugyo variant.

Efforts to contain the outbreak have also been complicated by insecurity in eastern DRC, particularly in Ituri, where clashes between armed groups and attacks on health workers have disrupted medical operations.

Health authorities reported that youths set fire to an Ebola treatment centre in Lolwa, Ituri province, on Sunday.

The United Nations(UN) also said clashes between local militia temporarily halted the health response in Fataki on the same day.

Meanwhile, Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels have carried out deadly attacks in parts of Ituri, Haut-Uele and North Kivu in recent days, according to local and security sources.