Kinshasa: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has recorded 689 confirmed Ebola cases and 139 deaths, according to the latest health ministry situation report. The figures include 17 new confirmed cases and five additional deaths reported on Thursday, all in the eastern province of Ituri.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has now spread across 29 health zones in three eastern provinces—Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. Officials also reported 168 suspected cases, including 64 deaths.
Health authorities highlighted major operational challenges, including reluctance to undergo post-mortem swabbing, limited capacity in Ebola treatment centres, shortages of infection prevention and control supplies in North Kivu, weak alert reporting systems, and a funding gap of USD 21.5 million.
Two Ebola-related deaths were also reported in a camp for internally displaced people in Ituri, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
The outbreak was officially declared on May 15 and is the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976.
The Bundibugyo strain currently circulating has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, while testing of potential candidates continues amid ongoing humanitarian challenges in the region.
