KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history, with government data showing 4,945 confirmed cases and 2,325 fatalities as of Aug. 16. During the previous 24 hours, health officials recorded 101 new confirmed infections, and the death toll has now exceeded the 2,299 lives lost during the 2018 to 2020 Ebola outbreak in the country.
These latest statistics intensify concerns raised earlier when infections and deaths continued to rise across eastern DRC. United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher stated that the virus was claiming one life every 30 minutes. Since the outbreak was officially declared in May, it has expanded rapidly, surpassing the total number of confirmed cases from the 2018 to 2020 outbreak by late July, thus marking it as the country’s largest epidemic by case count.
The authorities announced the outbreak on May 15 after laboratory tests confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976. The World Health Organization designated the situation as a public health emergency of international concern on May 17. Currently, no approved vaccine or specific treatment exists for Bundibugyo virus disease, leaving medical teams to rely on early detection, supportive care, isolation, contact tracing, and infection control measures.
Six provinces affected as cases accelerate
By Aug. 12, the outbreak had reached 54 health zones across six provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, and Bas-Uélé. The latest affected province, Bas-Uélé, confirmed a case in the Buta health zone involving a patient who had traveled from Haut-Uélé before developing symptoms. Ituri remains the outbreak’s epicenter, accounting for approximately 85% of all confirmed cases reported nationwide at that point.
The epidemic has also impacted healthcare workers and strained medical services in affected regions. By Aug. 9, authorities had verified at least 155 infections among health workers, including 45 deaths. As of Aug. 12, 965 patients had recovered, and over 17,000 contacts out of around 20,700 identified individuals were monitored during the latest reporting period. Challenges such as insecurity, displacement, and attacks on health facilities have complicated efforts in surveillance, treatment, and contact tracing.
Response efforts expand amid rising fatalities
In response to the mounting death toll, national health authorities have increased testing, surveillance, and treatment capacities in affected areas. Response teams are conducting training for medical personnel and improving infection prevention at healthcare facilities. Activities continue with contact tracing, laboratory testing, safe burials, and community outreach. Researchers are evaluating experimental vaccines and therapies; however, none have yet been approved for Bundibugyo virus disease. A clinical trial for potential treatments began enrolling confirmed patients in Ituri in July as part of the expanded emergency response.
The outbreak has also led to confirmed cases outside the DRC. Uganda reported 20 cases and two deaths, with authorities maintaining heightened monitoring after discharging their last patient in July. France confirmed one imported case, with no documented secondary transmissions. The DRC epidemic now ranks behind only the 2014 to 2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak in total worldwide deaths, which resulted in 11,310 fatalities and 28,616 cases across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.