DRC Ebola outbreak remains global health emergency as cases surge

What the report says

The World Health Organization says the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains a public health emergency of international concern as case counts continue to rise and the virus spreads into new areas. In the report carried by The Independent Uganda, WHO said the outbreak has grown into the second-largest Ebola epidemic ever recorded and is spreading faster than previous outbreaks.

According to the latest WHO tally cited in the article, the DRC had reported 5,021 confirmed cases and 2,378 deaths across 55 health zones in six provinces, with a case fatality rate of 47.4 percent. The eastern province of Ituri remains the main epicenter, but infections are increasing in neighboring provinces. WHO and Africa CDC both warned that the situation is not under control and could worsen without stronger action.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, which does not have a specifically approved vaccine or treatment. The article says authorities are pursuing experimental and repurposed medical tools, including human trials of two candidate vaccines, a treatment trial involving remdesivir and monoclonal antibodies, and studies of other antivirals. Officials are also examining whether the licensed Ervebo vaccine could offer some cross-protection for high-risk workers, though that is not yet confirmed.

WHO said the risk of wider spread remains high inside the DRC and across borders, with Uganda, South Sudan and the Central African Republic identified as especially vulnerable because of population movement and proximity to affected areas.