The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola outbreak has exceeded 8,000 confirmed cases, with 3,901 deaths, according to figures released by national health authorities and reported on Monday, 28 September. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recorded 8,067 confirmed cases using data through 26 September. The outbreak spans 63 health zones in seven provinces and is the largest Ebola outbreak in the country’s history.
The epidemic began in May and is caused by the Bundibugyo virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this type of Ebola disease. Rapid detection, isolation, supportive care, tracing of contacts and safe burials remain central to controlling its spread.
ECDC said the latest report added 78 confirmed cases and 49 deaths compared with the previous day’s figures. Ituri, the worst affected province, has recorded 6,155 cases and 2,834 deaths. North Kivu has recorded 1,523 cases and 906 deaths. The agency also counted 2,070 recoveries and 773 patients receiving care in isolation across the affected areas.
WHO warned in its 25 September assessment that transmission remains uneven. Cases have declined from an earlier peak in parts of Ituri, while other areas have seen continued spread. Conflict, displacement and limited access to basic services make it harder to find cases, monitor contacts and get patients into care quickly, WHO said.
The reported deaths amount to about 48% of confirmed cases, a crude ratio that does not establish the eventual outcome for everyone currently infected. WHO says deaths occurring outside treatment facilities and delays in detection remain major concerns. ECDC reported that 74.7% of identified contacts were under follow-up in the affected provinces, leaving a gap in surveillance.
WHO assesses the risk within Congo as very high and the risk for neighbouring countries as high, while assessing global risk as low. Health authorities and partners are expanding testing, infection control and clinical care. Their next challenge is to sustain those services and reach exposed people as the outbreak moves through areas with difficult access.
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