Ebola Outbreak: Death toll rises to 1,405 in DR Congo as vaccine trials begin

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 1,405, the country’s health ministry said on Monday.

The ministry said the number of infections since the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak was declared in mid-May had risen to 3,200, including 1,405 deaths.

It said 773 patients were in isolation or receiving treatment in hospitals as of July 25, while 571 had recovered.

Health authorities said surveillance, diagnosis, case management and contact-tracing activities were ongoing to contain the spread of the disease.

The virus has spread across five provinces: Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tshopo.

The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Ghebreyesus, said in Geneva on Thursday that “Even without approved therapeutics, people are recovering from this disease, but of course, we could save many more lives with safe and effective therapeutic treatment in our toolkit.”

DR Congo’s Health Minister, Dr Samuel Roger Kamba, said the launch “represents a significant step forward, offering renewed hope to patients, their families and affected communities.”