Adedokun Waliyu 
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has recorded more than 3,500 confirmed Ebola cases in its latest outbreak, surpassing the total number of cases reported during the country’s deadliest Ebola epidemic between 2018 and 2020.
According to official figures released by Congolese health authorities, the country has confirmed 3,532 Ebola cases across five provinces, with 1,556 deaths recorded.
The outbreak, which was officially declared just a few months ago, has spread rapidly. Health officials reported 2,000 confirmed cases by July 15, highlighting the sharp increase in infections.
The current outbreak is concentrated in the conflict-affected eastern region of the DRC, particularly Ituri Province, which borders Uganda and South Sudan. Cases have also been detected in North Kivu, South Kivu, and two other provinces.
This is the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak and is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. At present, there is no approved vaccine or treatment specifically for this strain.
However, efforts to combat the outbreak are underway. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified a vaccine being developed by Singapore-based Hilleman Laboratories as the most promising candidate against the Bundibugyo strain. In addition, Oxford University has begun clinical trials of another experimental vaccine, with the first volunteer already receiving a dose.
Health officials warn that the true scale of the outbreak may still be underestimated because ongoing armed conflict has made surveillance and access to affected communities difficult. Parts of the affected provinces remain under the control of the M23 armed group, complicating response efforts.
Meanwhile, Uganda recently declared itself Ebola-free after the recovery of its last locally transmitted case. Despite this, the World Health Organization has warned that Uganda remains at risk because of its shared border with the DRC and the continued spread of the virus.
Ebola is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids. It causes severe haemorrhagic fever and has claimed more than 15,000 lives across Africa over the past 50 years. The DRC’s deadliest Ebola outbreak, between 2018 and 2020, resulted in nearly 2,300 deaths from approximately 3,500 confirmed cases.
