DR Congo Ebola outbreak surpasses 1,000 cases amid rapid spread fears

06:59

By: Dakir Madiha

DR Congo Ebola outbreak surpasses 1,000 cases amid rapid spread fears

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has surpassed 1,000 suspected and confirmed cases, intensifying concerns over a fast-moving health emergency centered in the country’s eastern provinces. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the milestone in an update released Saturday, only eight days after the outbreak was classified as a public health emergency of international concern.

The epidemic is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a variant for which no approved vaccine or targeted treatment currently exists. The outbreak remains concentrated in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, while one confirmed case has also been reported in South Kivu. As of May 23, health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had recorded 746 suspected cases and 83 confirmed infections, alongside 176 suspected deaths and nine confirmed fatalities. Neighboring Uganda has reported five confirmed cases and one death connected to travel from the DRC.

Health officials and researchers believe the real scale of the outbreak may be significantly higher than official figures indicate. Researchers at Imperial College London estimated that between 400 and 900 infections could already have occurred by May 20, while warning that totals exceeding 1,000 cases could not be ruled out. The WHO raised its national risk assessment for the DRC to “very high” on May 21, although the organization continues to classify the global risk level as low.

The outbreak was first identified after the WHO received alerts on May 5 regarding a highly lethal unidentified illness in the Mongbwalu health zone in Ituri province. Laboratory analysis confirmed the Bundibugyo Ebola strain on May 15. One day later, the WHO declared an international public health emergency, marking the first time in the agency’s history that its director-general issued such a declaration without first convening an emergency committee.

Governments and international health agencies have accelerated response measures as the outbreak expands across borders. The United States introduced entry restrictions under Title 42 rules for non-US citizens who had recently traveled to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan. An American healthcare worker tested positive for the virus on May 17 and was later evacuated to Germany for treatment.

The WHO has deployed 22 international staff members and released $3.9 million from its emergency reserve fund to support containment operations. The United States has announced an initial $13 million funding package and is working on a monoclonal antibody treatment. Health officials are also evaluating the Ervebo vaccine, originally developed for the Zaire Ebola strain, as a possible option, although supplies are not expected to become available for at least two months.

Teams from Médecins Sans Frontières operating in affected areas said patient care currently relies on symptom management, including rehydration, oxygen therapy, and cardiac monitoring, due to the absence of a dedicated treatment. The Bundibugyo strain carries an estimated fatality rate of between 25% and 34%, increasing pressure on fragile healthcare systems in eastern Congo.