Health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo say a growing Ebola outbreak has resulted in 127 deaths, with confirmed cases now spanning multiple provinces and crossing into a neighboring country.
According to the DRC’s Ministry of Health, 635 confirmed Ebola cases had been recorded as of June 9, since the outbreak was officially declared on May 15. Of those infected, 297 patients remain in treatment centers and 30 people have recovered, the country’s Ministry of Communication and Media reported on social media.
Spread
The outbreak has affected three provinces – Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu – and reached 25 of the country’s 104 health zones, according to reports cited by PEOPLE. Health officials say population movement within the region has contributed to the spread.
The virus has also crossed international borders. The United Nations reported that Uganda has confirmed 19 Ebola cases and two related deaths linked to the outbreak.
Strain
Health authorities identified the outbreak as being caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a relatively uncommon variant. Officials say this strain has complicated early detection and response efforts.
Regional testing kits were primarily designed to identify the more common Zaire strain of Ebola. As a result, the Bundibugyo strain may have circulated undetected for weeks before officials confirmed the outbreak in mid-May.
“The community has been exposed before to Ebola, but this one is a new strain, a new species for which there is no vaccine, there is no treatment,” said Dr. Marie Roseline Belizaire, incident manager for the World Health Organization’s Ebola Response Team.
Response
World Health Organization officials say increased testing and contact tracing have contributed to the rise in confirmed case numbers. Dr. Abdirahman Mahamud, director of WHO’s health emergency alert and response operations, said the higher figures partly reflect improved surveillance.
However, officials caution that monitoring remains incomplete. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said contact follow-up has reached 61.1 percent, well below the 90 percent threshold considered necessary to contain an outbreak.
Belizaire said public health teams also face challenges explaining the risks to communities previously vaccinated against other Ebola variants, which do not provide protection against the Bundibugyo strain.
The WHO estimates that developing a vaccine specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain could take between six and nine months.
FAQs
How many Ebola deaths have been reported?
Health officials report 127 deaths so far.
Which countries are affected by the outbreak?
The outbreak affects DR Congo and Uganda.
What Ebola strain is involved?
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain.
Is there a vaccine for this strain?
No approved vaccine currently exists for it.
Why are case numbers increasing?
Expanded testing and contact tracing found more cases.
