KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – Since the onset of the latest Ebola outbreak in May, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed 2,267 cases and reported 893 fatalities, according to government data. The figures include reports up to Friday, July 17. During the past 24 hours, authorities identified 86 new confirmed infections and 29 additional deaths. The current totals indicate a case fatality rate of approximately 39%. These numbers account for laboratory-confirmed infections and deaths.
The Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare announced the outbreak on May 15 after laboratories detected Bundibugyo virus in samples from Ituri Province. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in the country since the virus was first identified in 1976. The outbreak was initially reported due to severe illness and fatalities among healthcare workers in northeastern DRC. The World Health Organization designated the situation as a public health emergency of international concern on May 17.
By July 15, health officials had recorded confirmed cases across 46 health zones in Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo provinces. Of these, 38 zones were classified as active after reporting cases in the previous 21 days. Nearly 90% of the confirmed cases in the latest detailed assessment originated from Ituri. Among the most affected health zones in northeastern DRC were Bunia, Rwampara, Mongbwalu, Nizi, and Nyankunde.
Broader testing efforts boost confirmed case numbers
Authorities explained that enhanced surveillance, increased testing capacity, and more extensive diagnostics had led to higher numbers of processed samples, including older specimens. The reporting system records cases once laboratories confirm them, which may not align with the actual date of infection. As of mid-July, over 80% of new cases were outside known contact lists. Additionally, about two-thirds of fatalities occurred in communities where patients never reached healthcare facilities for treatment.
Response teams are intensifying contact tracing, laboratory testing, case management, infection control, and community outreach activities across the affected regions. By July 15, officials had identified 12,693 contacts in Ituri, North Kivu, and Tshopo, with 10,195 of those being monitored. Challenges include insecurity, population movements, and strained healthcare resources in eastern DRC. While early supportive care can improve survival chances, there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment available for Bundibugyo virus.
Outbreak extends beyond DRC borders into Uganda
Bundibugyo virus triggers a form of Ebola disease that spreads through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids from infected individuals. Transmission can also occur via contaminated surfaces and materials. Typical symptoms include fever, severe weakness, muscle pain, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes bleeding. Health workers emphasize hydration, managing symptoms, infection prevention, and safe patient care while monitoring affected communities and tracing contacts.
The outbreak has also impacted Uganda, which reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths by mid-July. Authorities attributed 15 infections to imported cases and five to contacts or healthcare workers. Uganda has reported no community transmission and discharged its last patient on July 16. The country has since initiated a 42-day enhanced surveillance period. The DRC remains the epicenter of the outbreak, with 2,267 confirmed cases and 893 deaths as of the government’s July 17 update.