Congo-Kinshasa: DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Toll Exceeds 3,700 Deaths

More than 3,700 deaths have been reported in the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), prompting significant scaling up of response efforts. According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), cases of infection have decreased by 26% in the province of Ituri and 15% in Haut Uele over the past 21 days.

However, North Kivu province has seen a 73% increase in cases. WHO Regional Emergency Director for Africa, Dr. Marie Roseline Belizaire, emphasized that the outbreak is not yet under control and is spread across a wide geographic area. Children under five have the highest case fatality rate, at over 60%, compared to around 40% among adults.

Early detection and timely access to care are crucial, as one in three new cases are identified only after people have died outside Ebola treatment centers. The WHO and partners are expanding their reach across affected provinces, with nearly 1,400 treatment and isolation beds and 25 laboratories capable of processing 2,500 tests daily.

However, infrastructure alone will not stop the outbreak, and efforts are being directed to areas where transmission is greatest and risks are high. WHO medic Dr. Catherine Smallwood stressed the need to decentralize the response to remote villages and local areas, as distances are long and it takes time for patients to be referred into urban centers.