KINSHASA—The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has risen to more than 900, including dozens of health workers, as authorities and international agencies intensify efforts to contain what officials describe as the fastest-growing outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
The Congolese Ministry of Health reported at least 930 confirmed deaths and 2,344 confirmed infections as of July 20. The ministry said 724 patients were in isolation or receiving hospital care, while hundreds of others had recovered.
Health officials said the outbreak, declared on May 15, has spread across five provinces, with Ituri remaining the epicenter of transmission. The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, complicating response efforts despite expanded surveillance, laboratory testing and patient care.
The Ministry of Health said at least 36 healthcare workers have died after contracting the virus while responding to the epidemic. Officials and aid organizations have warned that attacks on health facilities, insecurity in affected areas and interruptions to medical services have hindered containment operations.
The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak continues to expand, with many new infections linked to unidentified chains of transmission, making contact tracing increasingly difficult. WHO said sustained community transmission remains a major concern and noted that surveillance has expanded significantly, contributing to higher reported case numbers while also revealing wider geographic spread.
According to WHO, confirmed cases have also been identified outside the Democratic Republic of the Congo through cross-border transmission and medical evacuations, including cases in Uganda, France and Germany linked to the outbreak. Uganda has not reported a new confirmed case since late June and has entered a period of enhanced surveillance as authorities monitor for further transmission.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said it continues to support the Congolese government and partner organizations through surveillance, laboratory services and clinical response. Officials said frontline teams remain focused on identifying infections quickly, isolating patients and strengthening community engagement to slow transmission.
Congolese authorities and international health agencies said the response remains centered on expanding case detection, protecting healthcare workers and improving access to affected communities as the outbreak continues to evolve.
