Congo's Ebola cases rising at record pace

The Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has expanded to include a sixth province, raising fears that the disease could reach the capital city of Kinshasa. Jean-Jacques Muyembe, head of Congo's National Institute for Biomedical Research, confirmed that facilities for isolating patients are ready should the situation worsen.

The Ministry of Health has prepared Cinquantenaire Hospital for potential Ebola cases, with 20 beds ready to expand to 200 or 250 if necessary. However, the rapidly spreading virus, driven by the Bundibugyo strain without a vaccine or treatment, has outpaced health authorities' containment efforts. The current outbreak has claimed 2,000 lives and recorded over 4,300 cases since May 15, surpassing the 2014-2016 West African outbreak that left 11,000 dead.

The epidemic's epicenter is the insecure northeastern Ituri province, with many cases also reported in the volatile provinces of North and South Kivu. Despite being officially declared on May 15, the WHO expects the outbreak to peak in six months, given slow contact-tracing of infected individuals. Authorities fear a surge in infections, as many deaths from the virus have not been registered on official contact lists before burial, and many infections originate from funerals.

Kinshasa's rapid population movement and ongoing violence in affected areas contribute to the virus's spread. Authorities are exploring the possibility of providing additional beds and training more professionals to treat potential Ebola cases.