The Ebola outbreak sweeping the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to escalate, with health authorities reporting 808 confirmed cases and 192 deaths across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kinshasa on Monday, Minister of Public Health, Hygiene, and Social Welfare Samuel Roger Kamba stated that 363 patients are currently receiving treatment in dedicated healthcare facilities, while around 50 others have successfully recovered from the disease. The minister recalled that when the outbreak was officially declared on 15 May, three health zones were already affected: Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu, which remains the absolute epicenter of the epidemic. Two days after the initial declaration, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the emergence of Ebola cases in neighboring Uganda, signaling the virus’s dangerous cross-border spread.
According to data released by the Ministry of Health, the outbreak has now expanded to 31 health zones across the three affected provinces. Most cases remain heavily concentrated in Ituri, while North Kivu and South Kivu continue to report more limited transmission. The overall case fatality rate currently stands at 23.8 percent, a figure health authorities stressed underscores the vital importance of early diagnosis and treatment, which significantly improve patients’ chances of survival.
The Ministry of Health’s latest situation report, published on 14 June, recorded 26 new confirmed cases and 11 additional deaths linked directly to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. Of these new infections, 21 were reported in Ituri Province, including 11 cases in Mongbwalu, four in Nyankunde, three in Bunia, and three in Rwampara. The remaining five cases were identified in North Kivu, with four reported in Butembo and one in Katwa. No additional health zones were affected during this specific reporting period, leaving the total number of impacted zones at 31 out of the country’s 104 health zones.
On a positive note, health officials also announced the recovery of eight additional patients, with three being discharged from treatment centers in Bunia and five from facilities in Rwampara. Since the outbreak began, 48 people have recovered from the disease, and the ministry reiterated that Ebola can be successfully treated when patients are diagnosed and managed at an early stage.
Despite these intensified response efforts, several structural challenges continue to hamper containment operations on the ground. The minister highlighted persistent mistrust among some communities toward healthcare teams working in the field. Consequently, Samuel Roger Kamba called on traditional chiefs and community leaders to strengthen public awareness campaigns aimed at countering misinformation and misconceptions surrounding Ebola, emphasizing that the sooner infected individuals seek treatment, the greater their chances of recovery. The minister also warned strongly against the continued practice of traditional burials conducted without adequate protective measures, noting that such ceremonies remain one of the leading drivers of Ebola transmission.
Monitoring individuals who have been in close contact with confirmed cases remains another major challenge for the response teams. According to the ministry, only 63 percent of identified contacts are currently being monitored regularly, which is well below the 95 percent target set by health authorities. To strengthen surveillance efforts, 1,200 community health workers have already been trained, nearly 1,000 of whom are currently deployed in affected areas. Their active number is expected to increase to 1,300 in the coming days before a further scale-up planned for early July. These community workers are tasked with rapidly identifying suspected cases, tracing contacts, and alerting medical teams in order to curb the spread of the outbreak. Finally, authorities stated that key logistical requirements have been secured and that the gradual deployment of additional response equipment is continuing across all affected areas.
TE/Sf/lb/abj/APA