GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – According to the World Health Organization, reductions in Ebola spread are occurring in some of the most affected regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These positive changes are most apparent in parts of Ituri province, the outbreak’s primary epicenter. Nevertheless, the epidemic persists and continues to grow in other locations, with official data up to Sept. 13 indicating 7,258 confirmed cases and 3,510 deaths across seven provinces, and a national case fatality rate of 48.4%.
While South Kivu has seen no new cases since May and more patients are recovering across the country, official figures as of Sept. 13 report 1,726 recoveries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the recent trends as promising after months of rapid transmission, yet he emphasized that the epidemic still leads to deaths and continues to expand, affecting 62 health zones with notable differences between provinces.
Despite a recent decrease, Ituri remains the outbreak’s main hotspot, with around 300 new cases and 160 deaths reported during the latest week, accounting for nearly half of the country’s total for that period. Conversely, North Kivu shows signs of escalation, with weekly infections nearly doubling over two weeks—from about 100 cases to over 200—as health teams monitor the spread. This indicates diverging transmission trends across different regions.
North Kivu sees rising cases while Ituri declines
Since May, the epidemic has been driven by the Bundibugyo virus disease, a form of Ebola that has spread extensively across the region. Most cases are concentrated in Ituri, which remains the most affected province overall, while North Kivu ranks second in case numbers. Haut-Uélé continues to report ongoing transmission, and the outbreak recently expanded into Sud-Ubangi, making it the seventh affected province. This spread follows months of new cases emerging across northeastern and central parts of the country.
Health teams are actively engaged in clinical research as part of the response, with increased trials for treatments and post-exposure prophylaxis as community participation improves. Efforts also include surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing, isolation, and clinical management. Officials closely monitor infection patterns because transmission varies greatly between provinces and health zones, meaning declines in one area can coincide with surges elsewhere.
Ongoing efforts span multiple affected zones
The coordinated response involves national health authorities, WHO, Africa CDC, and numerous partner organizations working alongside frontline medical teams. Ongoing insecurity and population displacement hinder access in several affected regions, complicating surveillance, contact tracing, and timely medical care. Challenges are especially acute in mining communities, informal settlements, and displacement sites, which often lack sufficient health services, sanitation, and infrastructure. Response teams continue operations across urban centers and remote communities alike.
While progress is evident in some areas, such as South Kivu, where no new cases have been reported for months, and Ituri, where transmission has decreased from high levels, North Kivu continues to see a sharp rise in weekly infections. Authorities are tracking each affected region individually because the epidemic manifests differently across the country. More than 3,500 confirmed deaths underscore the ongoing severity of this outbreak.