Ebola outbreak in dr Congo: 515 confirmed cases and 91 deaths in ituri province
Ebola outbreak in DR Congo: 515 confirmed cases and 91 deaths, Ituri remains the epicenter
- Health
The Ebola virus disease outbreak (Bundibugyo strain) continues its relentless march through eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to the latest situation report from the National Institute of Public Health, 515 confirmed cases have been recorded since the outbreak began in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
The same report documents 91 deaths among confirmed cases, representing an overall case fatality rate of 17.7%. Among the confirmed cases, 283 patients remain in isolation or hospitalized, while 12 have recovered since the outbreak began.
In the last 24 hours alone, 27 new confirmed cases have been identified.
Epidemiological spread
The outbreak now affects 25 health zones across the country. Ituri Province remains the hardest-hit area, with 17 of its 36 health zones reporting cases, including Aru, Aungba, Bambu, Bunia, Damas, Gety, Kilo, Komanda, Lita, Logo, Mambasa, Mangala, Mongbwalu, Nizi, Nyankunde, Rimba and Rwampara.
While Ituri remains the epicenter, active transmission has been confirmed in neighboring provinces. In North Kivu and South Kivu, multiple hotspots persist, demonstrating the geographic expansion of the epidemic beyond its initial outbreak zone.
Key affected areas in neighboring provinces
- Katwa health zone (North Kivu): 11 confirmed cases and 8 deaths
- Beni: 5 confirmed cases and 3 deaths
- Butembo: 4 confirmed cases and 2 deaths
- Miti-Murhesa: 3 confirmed cases and 1 death
- Oicha: 2 confirmed cases and 2 deaths
- Kalunguta: 1 confirmed case and 1 death
- Kyondo: 1 confirmed case and no deaths
- Goma: 1 confirmed case and no deaths
Challenges in the response
The current figures emerge against a backdrop of significant operational challenges for response teams. Persistent insecurity in some parts of Ituri, compounded by logistical hurdles in accessing affected communities, continues to hamper containment efforts.
Health authorities emphasize the critical need to strengthen community engagement to counter misinformation and dispel harmful rumors that threaten to undermine prevention measures.
The situation demands urgent action. Authorities continue to urge the population to report any suspected cases immediately and to strictly adhere to prevention protocols to curb further spread of the virus.