The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reached 5,515 confirmed cases and 2,642 deaths, according to the latest government figures. The case fatality rate has risen to nearly 48%, with 51 new cases reported in Ituri and North Kivu provinces. The outbreak, declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), is the DRC’s 17th Ebola epidemic and the deadliest in the country’s history.
Ebola cases in DRC hit 5,515 as Pope Leo
Pope Leo called for global action to contain the epidemic during a message from the Vatican, urging the international community to involve local communities in prevention efforts. I urge the international community to respond in a way that also involves local communities in prevention efforts to save as many lives as possible,
he said. The outbreak, which began in mid-May, has overwhelmed health systems and faced challenges including armed conflict, displacement, and attacks on medical personnel.
WHO and Africa CDC welcome the allocation of Ebola
The WHO has allocated 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, with 16,250 doses arriving in the DRC. A portion of the vaccine is being used in a Phase 3 clinical trial to assess its efficacy against the Bundibugyo strain, which differs from the Zaire strain for which Ervebo was originally licensed. Early animal studies suggest potential protection, but human effectiveness remains unproven. The WHO and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) emphasized the need for community-led approaches to control the outbreak.
Despite the crisis, some regions, including parts of Uganda and DRC’s Ituri and South Kivu provinces, have interrupted transmission. However, the WHO warned that the risk to the global public remains low, while the danger within the DRC is “very high.” Health workers face significant risks, with 160 infected and 45 deaths reported. The agency has called for a two- to threefold scaling of the response to reach affected areas and protect frontline staff.
