DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Exceeds 6,000 Cases, Nears 3,000 Deaths

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has surpassed 6,000 confirmed cases and resulted in 2,911 deaths as of August 31, according to government figures published on Monday.

This outbreak is now the largest recorded in DR Congo's history, exceeding the country's 2018-2020 epidemic. The case fatality rate stands at 48.2 percent. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday that the outbreak continues to worsen, with cases and deaths rising due to sustained transmission and geographic expansion. The outbreak, declared in May, is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments.

It has spread to 60 health zones across six provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, Bas-Uele, and Tshopo. Ituri remains the worst affected, with 28 of its 36 health zones reporting cases, and 4,802 confirmed cases recorded as of August 26. A total of 1,366 patients have recovered, while 619 remain in isolation or hospital.

Five Ebola survivors, including a healthcare worker, were discharged from treatment in Béni on Sunday. Children across DR Congo returned to school on Tuesday, prompting concern among parents and teachers in Ituri province. Dieudonne Lotsima, a father of three in Bunia, Ituri's provincial capital, questioned whether schools should reopen without a specific vaccine. The Lagos State Government in Nigeria conducted a strategic assessment of its Infectious Disease Hospital, Mainland Hospital, Yaba, to ensure emergency readiness for any possible Ebola Virus Disease outbreak.

Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, stated the assessment was necessary as the state Ministry of Health prepares for any eventualities. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) head of delegation, Ariel Kestens, stated that sustained attention and resources for the Ebola response in DRC remain essential.