Daijiworld Media Network - Kinshasa

Kinshasa, Jul 5: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has confirmed 1,528 Ebola infections, including 492 deaths, as health authorities battle the country's largest-ever outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.

According to the latest situation report released by the country's public health authorities, 239 patients have recovered, while 628 confirmed cases remain under isolation or hospital care. Officials have also identified 185 suspected infections that are under investigation.

Health authorities said the outbreak continues to spread, with epidemiological weeks 25 and 26 each recording more than 300 confirmed cases—the highest weekly figures since the outbreak began—indicating sustained community transmission.

Officials identified several obstacles hampering containment efforts, including resistance from some communities to post-mortem testing, limited capacity at Ebola treatment centres, particularly in the eastern province of North Kivu, inadequate contact tracing, delays in laboratory confirmation, shortages of medicines and infection-control supplies, and persistent insecurity that has restricted access to affected areas.

Speaking during an online media briefing, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Yakub Janabi described the situation as serious, noting that active transmission continues in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.

Janabi said the current outbreak is the largest Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak ever documented.

WHO expert Pierre Akilimali said the response has been complicated by ongoing armed conflict and insecurity in several affected regions, making surveillance and contact tracing increasingly difficult. He added that mining communities in Ituri, where there is frequent movement of workers and traders, have heightened the risk of further transmission.

The WHO announced on Thursday that a clinical trial has begun in the DRC to evaluate potential treatments for Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus. At present, there is no approved vaccine or targeted treatment specifically for this strain.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Uganda has reported 20 confirmed Ebola cases, including 15 imported infections, according to WHO officials. The remaining five locally acquired cases were detected while the patients were in quarantine, and health authorities said there has been no evidence of community transmission within the country.

To strengthen regional preparedness, Uganda and the DRC have established a joint cross-border response mechanism and signed a memorandum of understanding to improve surveillance, share outbreak data, and enhance screening and treatment capabilities in border districts.