Democratic Republic of the Congo faces escalating Ebola outbreak

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing a severe Ebola outbreak, with confirmed cases surpassing 8,000 and deaths exceeding 3,900. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports a case fatality rate of more than 48 percent across 63 affected health zones in seven provinces.

In eastern Ituri province, the Kigonze displacement camp was recently deserted after security forces entered the site to search for weapons. The resulting clashes forced approximately 19,000 displaced people to flee, raising significant concerns regarding the spread of the virus. An Ebola transit centre at the camp was burned down during the unrest, and officials have struggled to trace approximately 80 percent of the 1,000 people identified as Ebola contacts living at the site.

Health officials emphasize that early access to care and oxygen is critical for survival, yet many patients continue to die in their communities due to delays in seeking treatment and difficulties reaching health facilities. While treatment capacity has expanded to over 1,600 beds across 50 centres, the United Nations warned that the challenge of halting the spread has become increasingly difficult due to the displacement of vulnerable populations.