Ebola outbreak in DR Congo kills one person every 30 minutes

The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is spreading at an unprecedented rate, with UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher reporting that one person dies every 30 minutes. The outbreak, which was declared on May 15, has resulted in 2,184 deaths out of more than 4,660 confirmed cases, representing a lethality rate of approximately 47 percent.

The province of Ituri remains the primary epicenter, accounting for over 3,400 of the recorded cases. The situation is further exacerbated by armed conflict and food insecurity in the eastern regions, particularly in North and South Kivu, where millions face severe malnutrition. Uganda has also reported 20 infections.

In response, the United Nations has allocated an additional $30.5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to bolster health services, following a previous $24 million allocation. The UN has also deployed 20 additional staff members to the epicenter to assist in containment efforts.