A rise in Ebola infections in North Kivu province has filled all 29 beds at a treatment centre in Butembo, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Reuters reported on Friday, September 25. Local authorities opened two additional centres this week, bringing the city’s total to four, as responders try to keep pace with patients who need isolation and care.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus and was first confirmed in neighbouring Ituri province in May. Ituri remains the most affected area, but North Kivu has become a growing focus. According to Congolese government figures cited by Reuters, the country had recorded 7,820 confirmed cases and 3,779 deaths as of Tuesday, September 22.
Doctors Without Borders said its Kitatumba centre in Butembo was operating beyond its 29-bed capacity. Its project coordinator told Reuters that cases had increased sharply during the preceding two weeks and that some people who knew they were infected could not find a bed. Reuters also reported that a 10-year-old boy died during triage on Tuesday, before staff could admit him.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that, as of September 21, North Kivu had recorded 1,438 cases and 872 deaths across 16 health zones. It said seven Congolese provinces had been affected. The agency’s figures, published on September 23, use an earlier reporting cutoff than the government totals cited by Reuters and are therefore not directly comparable.
Response teams face shortages of trained staff and funding, while distrust of health workers can delay testing and treatment, according to Reuters. The World Health Organization says Bundibugyo Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials. Early symptoms can resemble other illnesses, making prompt testing important. No vaccine or specific treatment is approved for this virus type; WHO says a candidate vaccine is being studied under a research protocol.
WHO told Reuters that cases in North Kivu had declined in recent days after several weeks of increases, but warned that limited bed capacity and resources still put the province under pressure. Congolese authorities and health partners are expanding care, tracing contacts and working with community leaders. The next test is whether those measures can reach new cases quickly enough to slow transmission.
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