BUNIA — The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to more than 930, the country's Health Ministry said on Monday, as authorities and international health agencies continued efforts to contain what officials describe as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record.
The ministry reported at least 930 deaths among 2,344 confirmed cases, including 37 deaths recorded over a 24-hour period from Friday into Saturday. Officials said hundreds of patients remain in treatment or isolation as response teams work to identify new infections and trace contacts.
The outbreak, declared on May 15, is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment. The World Health Organization has warned that sustained transmission continues in several health zones, with many new infections linked to transmission chains that have not yet been identified.
Health authorities said response operations have been complicated by insecurity, attacks on health facilities and workers, and disruptions caused by a strike among some frontline health personnel over unpaid wages. Dozens of healthcare workers have died during the outbreak, according to official figures.
The WHO and Congolese authorities said surveillance, treatment and contact-tracing operations remain underway, while neighboring countries continue heightened monitoring. Officials said the situation remains active and that case and death figures may change as additional infections are confirmed and investigations continue.
