Ebola cases in Congo exceed 5,000, government data shows

Nairobi has reported that the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded more than 5,000 confirmed Ebola cases, according to government data released late on Tuesday. The public health institute shared the latest situation report, noting a total of 5,021 cases and 2,378 deaths. The World Health Organisation's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed on Tuesday that the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo continues to be a global emergency.

The UN health agency initially declared the rare Bundibugyo outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on May 17. In a statement via X, Tedros said updated recommendations for the government of DRC and other at-risk countries would be issued in the coming days. On Sunday, government data revealed that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed the death toll from the 2018-2020 outbreak, making it the deadliest in the country's history.

The communications ministry announced on Friday that the ongoing Ebola outbreak has expanded to a sixth province, Bas-Uele, located in the northeast of the country.