Ebola Cases Top 1,800 as Outbreak Spreads to Fourth Province in DR Congo

Kinshasa (TDI): The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has risen above 1,800, with the outbreak spreading to a fourth province, according to the country’s health ministry.

In its latest situation report released on Saturday, the ministry said a total of 1,830 confirmed cases, including 648 deaths, have been recorded since the outbreak was declared on May 15.

Health authorities said 780 patients are currently receiving treatment, while 284 people have recovered from the virus, Anadolu Agency reported.

The outbreak has primarily affected Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, where response efforts have been intensified through strengthened national coordination, disease surveillance and community awareness campaigns.

However, officials confirmed on Friday that the virus had spread to Haut-Uele province after seven fatal Ebola cases were identified in the Wamba health zone, marking the fourth affected province.

Read More: WHO Director-General Makes Rare Visit to DRC as Ebola Outbreak Worsens

International donors and development partners have pledged $910 million to support Ebola response efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring Uganda, where 20 cases have also been reported.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said it has deployed multidisciplinary expert teams to priority health zones, which account for 83 percent of all reported infections, as part of a decentralized response strategy.

Read More: Bundibugyo Ebola Strain: WHO Reports 906 Suspected Cases, 223 Deaths in DRC

Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya said the outbreak underscored the importance of rapid detection and response. “Every moment counts and every delay costs lives,” he said, stressing that Africa must strengthen outbreak surveillance, community-based healthcare systems and emergency financing to contain future health threats.

Two days after the outbreak was declared, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, citing the growing risk of regional spread.