Ebola deaths in DRC surge past 1,300 as virus ‘spreading like a wildfire’

What the report says

Al Jazeera reported that the Democratic Republic of Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak has killed more than 1,309 people, citing government data released on Saturday, July 25. The figures showed 2,973 confirmed cases, including deaths, as of Thursday, a sharp increase from the previous week. The report said the pace of infections and fatalities makes this the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record, with deaths rising past 1,000 in less than 10 weeks.

The outbreak is centred in northeastern Ituri province and involves the Bundibugyo strain, a rare Ebola variant for which Al Jazeera reported there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments. Abdulsalami Nasidi, a public health consultant linked to the creation of Africa CDC, told the outlet the virus was spreading “like a wildfire,” with conflict and limited health resources worsening the response. The article also noted that Oxford’s vaccine team has begun testing a rapidly developed experimental Bundibugyo vaccine.

Al Jazeera’s reporting from Goma described an overstretched and uneven government response, with health workers among the victims and many staff facing unsafe conditions. More than 100 health workers have reportedly been infected, about 35 have died, and strikes over unpaid wages and poor protection have affected Ebola treatment centres, including facilities near Bunia.

The World Health Organization has warned that actual infections may be far higher than official counts because insecurity limits access to some communities. The outbreak matters beyond DRC because Ebola can spread quickly when treatment, contact tracing and safe burials are disrupted; the report said the US and Canada have imposed entry restrictions on recent DRC travellers, despite WHO guidance against such measures.