The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has escalated sharply, with the World Health Organization reporting 600 confirmed deaths just three days after the toll passed 500.
Updated WHO figures show 1,759 confirmed cases since the outbreak was declared on May 15, alongside 304 suspected cases still under investigation. The case fatality rate in the DRC stands at 34%, with 285 patients having recovered so far.
The outbreak has also crossed borders. In neighbouring Uganda, 20 confirmed cases have been recorded, with 17 recoveries and two deaths.
The crisis is concentrated in Ituri province, one of four affected regions in northeastern DRC. The outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, a rare strain for which no approved vaccines or treatments currently exist.
A clinical trial launched on July 2 is testing two potential treatments for Bundibugyo:
MBP134 monoclonal antibody
Remdesivir antiviral drug
Researchers are evaluating their effectiveness both individually and in combination.
Ebola spreads through close contact and infected bodily fluids, and the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak was declared after several deaths in mineral‑rich Ituri a region already destabilised by armed groups.
With cases rising rapidly and no approved treatment for this strain, health authorities warn the situation remains extremely fragile.
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