The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has recorded more than 11,000 confirmed cases and 5,387 deaths from its worst-ever Ebola outbreak, as ongoing armed conflict continues to disrupt efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
Official figures released by the country’s National Institute of Public Health on Wednesday showed that the outbreak had infected 11,042 people, with approximately 2,990 recovering from the disease.
The 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC was officially declared in May, although health experts believe the virus may have been circulating weeks or months before its confirmation.
The latest outbreak began in Ituri Province in northeastern DRC and has spread to seven other provinces, with most infections concentrated in Ituri and North Kivu. Cases have also been reported in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.
Ebola is a highly infectious disease transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons and can cause severe haemorrhagic fever.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of the virus, for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment is currently available.
In a development aimed at strengthening prevention efforts, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced last month that Ervebo, a vaccine approved against the more common Zaire strain of Ebola, would undergo human trials in the DRC to determine whether it could provide protection against the Bundibugyo strain.
The outbreak has also raised concerns over the growing security challenges in eastern DRC, where armed clashes and attacks on health workers have hampered emergency response operations.
Health authorities disclosed that a health centre treating Ebola patients was set ablaze by youths on Sunday in Lolwa, Ituri Province.
The United Nations also reported that clashes between local militia groups temporarily suspended health response activities in Fataki on the same day.
Meanwhile, Islamic State-affiliated rebels operating under the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have reportedly carried out deadly attacks in parts of Ituri, Haut-Uele and North Kivu in recent days, further complicating efforts to contain the outbreak.
The DRC previously experienced its deadliest Ebola outbreak between 2018 and 2020, when nearly 2,300 people died out of approximately 3,500 recorded cases.
Across Africa, Ebola has claimed more than 15,000 lives over the past five decades, highlighting the continued public health threat posed by the disease.