Ebola has claimed over 15,000 lives in Africa over the past 50 years. The deadliest outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had nearly 2,300 deaths and 3,500 cases reported between 2018 and 2020.

For this outbreak, declared officially on May 15, 506 deaths and 1,561 confirmed cases have been recorded in the DRC, while a balance of two deaths and 20 confirmed cases in neighboring Uganda remains unchanged, according to the WHO’s latest situation report dated July 4.

A clinical trial testing two treatments against the Bundibugyo strain, the source of the outbreak, began last week. The WHO has also granted emergency use authorization for the first molecular diagnostic test.

High Mortality Rate

The epicenter of the crisis, whose true extent is still difficult to measure and could last several months, is located in Ituri province, north-eastern Congolese bordering South Sudan and Uganda.

In the mining town of Mongbwalu, considered the outbreak’s starting point, high mortality rates (50.7%) suggest ongoing challenges in early treatment or access to care for patients.

The virus is also present in neighboring provinces of Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu, where capitals and large swaths of territory are controlled by the antigovernmental M23 group.

In Nord-Kivu, a mortality rate of 57.4%, significantly higher than the average, has been deemed ‘concerning’ by Congolese health authorities. In Sud-Kivu Province, no new cases have been confirmed since May 26.

Health authorities in M23-controlled areas announced last week that the outbreak had been eradicated in their zones. This information could not be verified by AFP with independent sources.

In response to this announcement, trade between eastern DRC and Rwanda has partly resumed after several weeks of border closures, according to AFP journalists.