KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ebola epidemic has resulted in 1,916 deaths as of August 7, according to official data. The health authorities have confirmed a total of 4,209 infections since the outbreak began. The current death toll exceeds the previous report of 1,887 by 29. Additionally, 595 patients are currently receiving treatment in isolation, while 828 individuals have recovered from the disease.
Ituri continues to be the most severely affected region, with 3,636 confirmed cases and 1,551 fatalities. North Kivu follows with 470 cases and 315 deaths. Haut Uele has reported 91 infections and 44 deaths, Tshopo has nine cases with five fatalities, and South Kivu has documented three cases and one death. The outbreak has impacted 53 of the 140 health zones across the five provinces that have confirmed cases.
The latest daily report added 89 new confirmed infections and 21 deaths nationwide. Of these new cases, 73 were in Ituri. North Kivu contributed an additional 12 cases, and Haut Uele reported four. Efforts to monitor contacts have reached 83.4% of identified individuals across affected regions. Authorities are actively reviewing surveillance, laboratory, and clinical records to update case and death figures accurately.
Ituri remains the epicenter of the expanding outbreak
The Democratic Republic of the Congo declared its Ebola outbreak in May after laboratory tests identified the Bundibugyo virus. The Ministry of Health has taken charge of surveillance, testing, patient isolation, contact tracing, and medical care across the affected zones. Prevention measures, including infection control protocols and safe burial practices, are being employed to curb further transmission. The outbreak has spread to several eastern provinces, where insecurity, population movements, and strained healthcare infrastructure hinder routine disease control activities.
Ebola manifests through symptoms such as fever, intense weakness, body pains, vomiting, and other severe health issues. As the disease advances, some patients also experience bleeding. This outbreak marks the 17th Ebola incident recorded in the country since the virus was first identified in 1976. The World Health Organization has been supporting efforts including case detection, laboratory testing, patient care, and infection prevention to track the transmission across multiple provinces.
Bundibugyo virus lacks a licensed vaccine
Bundibugyo virus differs from the Zaire Ebola strain targeted by existing licensed vaccines. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease. Medical teams rely on supportive measures such as hydration, symptom management, and close monitoring. Research efforts are ongoing to develop candidate vaccines and investigational therapies. In Uganda, 20 confirmed cases of Bundibugyo and two deaths had been reported by late July, with no new cases after June 21.
The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the largest recorded epidemic caused by Bundibugyo virus and ranks as the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record by confirmed cases. Most infections and deaths are concentrated in Ituri and North Kivu. Health authorities continue laboratory testing, contact tracing, isolation, and patient management while updating the national figures as new surveillance data becomes available.