The Democratic Republic of Congo is battling the largest Ebola outbreak in its history, with confirmed infections rising to 6,041 and the death toll reaching 2,911, according to government figures released Monday.
The outbreak, declared in May, is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola and has spread across six provinces. It has been particularly severe in Ituri, North Kivu and Haut-Uele, where health authorities and response teams are working to contain transmission and treat infected patients.
Official figures show that at least 1,366 people have recovered, while 619 patients remain in isolation or hospital care. The scale and speed of the outbreak have placed significant pressure on an already stretched healthcare system, particularly in eastern parts of the country affected by insecurity and displacement.
The current epidemic has surpassed Congo’s previous largest Ebola outbreak, which occurred between 2018 and 2020. The rapid rise in cases has made the response increasingly difficult, with limited healthcare infrastructure, population movement and insecurity complicating efforts to identify contacts and prevent further transmission.
Authorities and international health organisations have intensified vaccination and other containment measures. However, the Bundibugyo virus presents an additional challenge because existing Ebola vaccines and treatments were developed primarily for other Ebola virus species and are not specifically approved for this strain.
The outbreak has also placed heavy demands on healthcare workers, many of whom are operating in difficult conditions while facing shortages of resources and delays in support. Officials continue to urge communities to cooperate with health teams as efforts focus on slowing transmission and preventing the outbreak from spreading further.
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