Ebola fight in DRC ‘far from over,’ warns WHO chief

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the fight against Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is "far from over," despite progress in some regions. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that cases are surging in North Kivu province, with weekly cases doubling to over 200 in the past two weeks. While transmission is declining in Ituri province and South Kivu has reported no new cases since May, Tedros emphasized the epidemic continues to grow and cause deaths. The outbreak is complicated by the emergence of the Bundibugyo virus strain, for which there is no known cure, though treatment trials and vaccine development are ongoing. Over 7,200 cases and more than 3,500 deaths have been reported across seven provinces since the outbreak began in May.

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have announced that the Ebola outbreak, declared on May 15th and concentrated in Ituri province, has peaked. The number of new infections is slowing, with daily cases decreasing from around 120 to 80. Six health zones have been removed from the list of affected areas after reporting no new cases for over 42 days. As of September 14th, the outbreak has resulted in over 7,200 confirmed cases and more than 3,475 deaths. While progress is noted, some officials urge continued vigilance and transparency in reporting data to ensure the disease remains under control.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is experiencing its worst Ebola epidemic, with over 7,000 cases recorded. The outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo virus was officially detected in mid-May, though it may have been spreading for weeks prior. To date, nearly 3,400 people have died, and 837 individuals are currently in isolation or receiving treatment. The epidemic began in the northeastern Ituri province and has since spread to six other provinces, including a recent case in South-Ubangi. The presence of armed groups and weak health infrastructure in the affected remote regions complicate containment efforts. Concerns have been raised about the virus reaching schools, prompting health measures such as mandatory hand-washing and reduced class sizes.