According to government data, the number of victims of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has exceeded 5000. More than 10,000 confirmed cases have been registered since the outbreak was declared in May.
The epidemic, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, has spread to eight of the country's twenty-six provinces. This is the deadliest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the DRC and the second largest globally after the 2014–2016 outbreak in West Africa.
The effectiveness of response measures was hampered by security issues, delays in infection detection, and overloaded medical facilities. A significant number of deaths occurred in communities rather than in treatment centers, highlighting difficulties with early case detection and providing timely patient care.
In September, an independent scientific review organized by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) noted positive trends in some regions, including a decrease in cases and deaths in parts of the Ituri province. However, the review warned that virus transmission is not uniformly controlled across all affected areas; in some health zones, particularly in North Kivu, there is an increase in incidence. Persistent community deaths and gaps in contact tracing were also noted as serious problems.
Africa CDC reported that there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for the Bundibugyo virus, although research in this area continues. Furthermore, the outbreak has spread beyond the DRC: cases have been reported in Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also registered a case in France, indicating the risk of further international spread.