KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – Since the outbreak started in May, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has documented 2,267 confirmed Ebola cases and 893 fatalities, according to government reports. The figures include data collected up to Friday, July 17. During the past 24 hours, authorities reported 86 new confirmed infections and 29 additional deaths. The latest statistics indicate a case fatality rate of approximately 39%. All figures reflect laboratory-confirmed infections and deaths.
The Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare announced the outbreak on May 15 after laboratories detected Bundibugyo virus in samples from Ituri Province. This marks the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976. The initial reports involved severe illness and fatalities among healthcare workers in northeastern DRC. The World Health Organization designated the situation as a public health emergency of international concern on May 17.
By July 15, health officials had confirmed cases in 46 health zones across Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo provinces. Of these, 38 zones were classified as active after reporting cases within the previous 21 days. Ituri accounted for nearly 90% of the confirmed cases in the latest detailed assessment. The most affected zones in northeastern DRC included Bunia, Rwampara, Mongbwalu, Nizi, and Nyankunde.
Enhanced testing efforts lead to higher confirmed case counts
Officials stated that expanded surveillance, testing, and diagnostic capabilities have increased the number of processed samples, including older specimens. The reporting system records cases only once laboratories confirm them, which may not align with the actual infection date. By mid-July, over 80% of new cases were outside known contact lists. Approximately two-thirds of fatalities occurred in communities where patients never reached healthcare facilities for treatment.
Response teams are intensifying contact tracing, laboratory testing, case management, infection control, and community outreach efforts across affected regions. As of July 15, authorities had identified 12,693 contacts in Ituri, North Kivu, and Tshopo, following 10,195 of them. Challenges include insecurity, population movements, and strained health services in eastern DRC. Early supportive care can improve patient survival, but currently, the Bundibugyo virus has no approved vaccine or specific treatment available.
Bundibugyo virus outbreak extends beyond DRC borders
Bundibugyo virus causes a form of Ebola that transmits through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals. It can also spread via contaminated surfaces and materials. Typical symptoms include fever, severe weakness, muscle pain, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes bleeding. Healthcare workers prioritize hydration, symptom management, infection prevention, and safe care practices while monitoring patients and tracing contacts within affected communities.
The outbreak has also reached Uganda, which reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths by mid-July. Authorities linked 15 infections to imported cases and five to contacts or healthcare workers. Uganda has not experienced community transmission and discharged its final patient on July 16, initiating a 42-day enhanced surveillance period. The DRC remains the epicenter of the outbreak, with 2,267 confirmed cases and 893 deaths as of the government’s July 17 update.