KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the deadliest in the nation’s history. According to government figures, there have been 4,945 confirmed cases and 2,325 fatalities as of Aug. 16. In the past 24 hours, health officials documented 101 new confirmed cases. The death toll now exceeds the 2,299 fatalities recorded during the country’s Ebola outbreak from 2018 to 2020.
These recent statistics intensify worries expressed earlier this week, as both infections and deaths continue to rise across eastern DRC. United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher stated that the virus was claiming a life every 30 minutes. Since the outbreak was officially declared in May, its spread has been remarkably rapid. By late July, confirmed cases had already surpassed the total from the 2018 to 2020 Ebola episode, making this the largest epidemic in the country by case count.
The outbreak was announced on May 15 following laboratory confirmation of Bundibugyo virus disease. This marks the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in the DRC since the virus’s discovery in 1976. The World Health Organization declared the situation a public health emergency of international concern on May 17. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease. Medical teams are relying on early detection, supportive care, isolation, contact tracing, and infection control measures to combat the spread.
Six provinces affected as cases accelerate
By Aug. 12, the outbreak had impacted 54 health zones across six provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo and Bas-Uélé. The latest province to be affected is Bas-Uélé, after authorities confirmed a case in the Buta health zone. The patient had traveled from Haut-Uélé prior to developing symptoms. Ituri remains the epicenter of the epidemic, accounting for approximately 85% of all confirmed cases reported nationwide at that point.
The epidemic has also severely impacted healthcare workers, adding extra strain on local medical services. As of Aug. 9, authorities had verified at least 155 infections among healthcare personnel, including 45 deaths. By Aug. 12, 965 patients had recovered in the DRC. Medical teams followed over 17,000 of roughly 20,700 contacts identified during the latest reporting period. Ongoing insecurity, population displacements, and attacks on health facilities have complicated efforts in surveillance, treatment, and contact tracing.
Enhanced health measures as fatalities reach historic high
National health authorities have ramped up testing, surveillance, and treatment efforts in affected regions. Response teams are conducting staff training and strengthening infection prevention protocols at health centers. Contact tracing, laboratory testing, safe burials, and community outreach activities continue. Researchers are also evaluating experimental vaccines and therapies, but none have yet gained approval for use against the Bundibugyo strain. A clinical trial investigating potential treatments began enrolling confirmed patients in Ituri in July, amid the expanded emergency response.
The outbreak has also led to confirmed cases outside the DRC. Uganda has reported 20 cases and two deaths, maintaining heightened monitoring after discharging its last patient in July. France identified one imported case without documented secondary transmission. This epidemic now ranks second globally in total deaths caused by Ebola, behind only the 2014 to 2016 West Africa outbreak, which resulted in 11,310 deaths and 28,616 cases across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.