Ebola infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo have surpassed 7,200, with nearly half of confirmed patients dying since the latest outbreak began, health authorities said Monday.
The Ministry of Health reported 3,475 deaths, putting the case fatality rate at 48.3 percent. Another 1,712 patients have recovered, while 923 remain in isolation or hospital care.
Officials said 88 percent of identified contacts are under monitoring.
However, despite the rising cumulative toll, Health Minister Roger Kamba said transmission is showing signs of slowing.
Daily infections have dropped from about 120 at the peak in mid‑August to around 80, and ten health zones have reported no new cases for at least 22 days, including six that have gone more than 42 days without infection.
“These figures represent a positive signal. They show that the efforts deployed on the ground are producing results and that our response strategy is beginning to bend the transmission curve,” Kamba said.
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has no approved vaccine or targeted treatment, was declared in May and has become the largest outbreak in the country’s history, overtaking the 2018-2020 epidemic.
The virus has spread to 62 health zones across seven provinces, with Ituri and North Kivu the worst affected. Sud‑Ubangi is among the more recently hit areas.
JN/APA