The Ebola virus has claimed over 15,000 lives in Africa over the past 50 years. The deadliest outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had resulted in nearly 2,300 deaths among 3,500 patients between 2018 and 2020.
For this outbreak, declared officially on May 15, 506 deaths and 1,561 confirmed cases have been reported in the DRC, with a total of two deaths and 20 confirmed cases in neighboring Uganda, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in its latest update dated July 4.
A clinical trial testing two treatments against the Bundibugyo strain, which caused the outbreak, began last week. The WHO has also granted emergency use authorization for the first molecular diagnostic test for the virus.
High Mortality Rate
The epicenter of the crisis, whose true extent is still difficult to measure and may persist for several months, is located in Ituri Province, a northeastern Congolese region bordering South Sudan and Uganda.
In the mining town of Mongbwalu, considered the starting point of the outbreak, the high mortality rate (50.7%) suggests persistent challenges in early intervention or access to care for patients.
The virus is also present in nearby provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, where capitals and large swaths of territory are controlled by the anti-governmental M23 group.
In North Kivu, a mortality rate of 57.4% is considered ‘highly alarming’ by Congolese health authorities. In South Kivu Province, no new cases have been confirmed since May 26.
Health officials in the M23-controlled areas announced last week that the outbreak had been eradicated in their zones. This information could not be verified by AFP sources.
In response to this announcement, border crossings between eastern DRC and Rwanda resumed after several weeks of closure, according to AFP journalists.
