Daijiworld Media Network - Kinshasa

Kinshasa, Oct 30: The death toll from the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is nearing 5,000, according to the latest official report released on Friday, as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) paid tribute to a doctor who died of the disease in the conflict-hit eastern region.

The latest situation report from the DRC's National Institute of Public Health (INSP) showed that the country had recorded 10,274 confirmed Ebola cases, including 4,992 deaths, as of October 28. The case fatality rate stood at 48.6 per cent.

The outbreak has affected 67 health zones across eight of the country's 26 provinces.

Meanwhile, Africa CDC paid tribute on social media platform X to Dr Marie-France Shogogo, who died of Ebola in Beni, North Kivu Province, and called for greater protection of frontline healthcare workers.

“Protect those who protect us,” the continental health agency said, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to local health sources, three doctors died of Ebola within less than 72 hours at an Ebola treatment centre in Beni, highlighting the risks faced by medical personnel working to contain the outbreak.

The Beni health zone has reported 661 cases, including 443 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 67 per cent, the INSP report said.

Across North Kivu, authorities have recorded 2,391 confirmed cases and 1,341 deaths.

The report also highlighted growing pressure on the province's healthcare system, with Ebola treatment facilities operating at 86.3 per cent capacity. Only 82.2 per cent of identified contacts were being monitored, falling short of the target of 95 per cent.

Declared on May 15 and caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, the outbreak has become the world's second-largest recorded Ebola outbreak.