The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has recorded more than 3,500 confirmed Ebola cases, surpassing the total reported during the country’s deadliest outbreak between 2018 and 2020.
According to official figures released on Friday, 3,532 cases have been confirmed across five provinces, with 1,556 deaths recorded since the outbreak began.
The latest outbreak, the country’s 17th, is centred in the conflict-ridden Ituri Province and has also spread to North Kivu, South Kivu, and two other provinces.
Health authorities said the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
The outbreak has escalated rapidly, with confirmed cases rising from about 2,000 on July 15 to more than 3,500 within weeks.
Meanwhile, efforts to contain the disease continue, with Hilleman Laboratories in Singapore developing what the World Health Organization (WHO) has described as the most promising vaccine candidate against the current strain. In addition, Oxford University has commenced clinical trials of another Bundibugyo vaccine.
Although Uganda recently declared itself Ebola-free after the recovery of its last locally transmitted case, the WHO has warned that the country remains at risk due to the continued spread of the virus in neighbouring DR Congo.
