KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / MENA Newswire / – The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported 598 confirmed Ebola cases and 115 deaths in its latest update on the outbreak in the country’s east. The Ministry of Health said 22 patients had recovered. The figures mark a sharp rise in confirmed infections since the outbreak was announced in May.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus. Cases have been confirmed across 17 health zones in Ituri, seven in North Kivu and one in South Kivu. The affected provinces have faced years of conflict, displacement and weak access to health services. Those conditions have made disease surveillance and patient follow-up more difficult.
The Ministry of Health urged people with symptoms such as fever, vomiting or diarrhea to seek care quickly and cooperate with response teams. Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of infected people or contaminated materials. Safe burials, early isolation, testing and contact tracing remain central to stopping transmission.
Eastern provinces face response strain
The World Health Organization has reported that the increase in confirmed cases partly reflects expanded testing and the processing of earlier samples. Health officials have also linked the rise to delayed detection in affected areas. The outbreak had circulated for weeks before formal confirmation, which allowed cases to appear in several health zones before broader response measures were in place.
Contact tracing has improved but remains below target in several areas. Response teams aim to identify and monitor people exposed to confirmed cases. Some zones have reported strong coverage, while others have recorded limited progress. Attacks on health workers, public mistrust and gaps in protective equipment have added pressure on Ebola treatment and surveillance teams.
Regional agencies step up coordination
The World Health Organization and Africa CDC have launched a six-month response plan for Ebola preparedness and control across the region. The plan covers surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention, clinical care, logistics and community engagement. It also supports cross-border coordination as Uganda has reported related Ebola cases, including deaths.
No approved vaccine or specific licensed treatment is available for Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus. Health authorities rely on supportive care, infection control and rapid detection to reduce deaths and transmission. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has recorded multiple Ebola outbreaks in past decades, but the current case count has made this one of the country’s largest confirmed Ebola events.