More than 6000 people infected with Ebola in DRC: Govt

The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded over 6,000 confirmed Ebola cases, marking the country's largest outbreak to date, according to government data. The epidemic, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola with no approved vaccines or treatments, surpassed the previous worst outbreak that occurred from 2018 to 2020. As of the latest update, 2,911 individuals have tragically lost their lives due to the virus, bringing the total number of infections to 6,041, according to the communication ministry on social media platform X.

French humanitarian organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has responded to the crisis by opening a new Ebola treatment centre in eastern DRC. However, challenges remain in controlling the outbreak, with bed shortages cited as a major hurdle. The treatment facility is located in Beni, North Kivu province, which has reported 122 confirmed cases and 87 deaths since the beginning of the outbreak in mid-May.

North Kivu has the highest case fatality rate among DRC's six affected provinces, standing at a concerning 68%, as per government data.