The Democratic Republic of Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak has become the third-largest ever recorded, with health authorities reporting a sharp rise in infections and deaths less than three months after the outbreak was declared.
The country’s Health Ministry said on Monday, July 20, that confirmed Ebola cases had risen to at least 2,344, while the death toll had reached 930.
The figures include 37 deaths recorded within a 24-hour period between Friday and Saturday, one of the steepest daily increases since the outbreak was declared on May 15.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the virus is spreading at an unprecedented pace in the DRC.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the 2018–2020 Ebola outbreak took more than 10 months to record 2,000 confirmed cases, whereas the current outbreak reached that figure in just two months.
He also cautioned that the actual number of infections could be at least twice the confirmed figure, as more than 80% of new cases are reportedly being identified outside known contact lists.
The outbreak began in Ituri Province, in the northeastern part of the country, following several deaths in the mineral-rich region, which is also affected by the activities of armed groups.
Ebola has since been detected in five provinces in the DRC and in neighbouring Uganda. Although Uganda is reportedly nearing the end of its outbreak, the situation in the DRC continues to deteriorate.
The response has also been affected by challenges within the healthcare system. Healthcare workers in Ituri began a strike last week over unpaid compensation, blocking access to Bunia General Hospital while demanding payment for services provided under difficult and high-risk conditions.
The Health Ministry said 724 patients were currently being isolated in hospitals as authorities intensified response measures in affected areas.
Despite the rapid spread of the virus, health officials reported 22 new recoveries within a 24-hour period, saying patient care and support capacities were being strengthened.
Ebola is transmitted through close contact with infected people and exposure to infected bodily fluids.
