Anambra Central Senatorial Zone -Why Princess Mbakwe Deserves The Seat

Outbreak Becomes Country’s Largest On Record

By Judith Afulu

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has become the country’s largest on record, with 6,041 confirmed cases and 2,911 deaths reported as of August 31.

The outbreak, declared on May 15, has spread across six provinces and dozens of health zones, with more than 1,300 people recovering from the disease.

Health authorities said 1,366 people had recovered as the epidemic continued to expand across the north and east of the country.

The scale of the outbreak has surpassed the previous record epidemic, which recorded 3,317 cases between 2018 and 2020.

The World Health Organisation has described the current outbreak as the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the country and one of the fastest-growing Ebola epidemics.

The outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare Ebola strain for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific approved treatment.

The absence of approved vaccines and specific treatment has made efforts to control transmission more difficult as cases continue to emerge.

Ituri province remains the epicentre of the outbreak, while infections have also been reported in North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo and Bas-Uélé.

The latest WHO update said the outbreak had reached 60 health zones by August 26.

The epidemic is spreading in areas already affected by armed violence, population displacement and fragile health services.

Health workers have faced difficulties reaching affected communities and tracing people who may have been exposed to the virus as residents move between affected areas.

A strike by health workers has added further pressure to an already overstretched response.

The movement of people has also increased concerns about the disease spreading to new areas, including across national borders.

The WHO said the overall risk remained very high within the Democratic Republic of Congo and high in neighbouring countries.

The outbreak has recorded a case fatality ratio of about 48 per cent, according to the latest WHO data.

The high death rate highlights the severity of the outbreak and the challenges involved in identifying patients and providing treatment early enough.

However, the recovery of more than 1,300 people offers some encouragement to health authorities and international partners working to contain the epidemic.

The WHO has warned that the outbreak could eventually overtake the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic, which killed more than 11,000 people and remains the deadliest Ebola outbreak recorded.

Health authorities and international partners are expanding surveillance, testing, treatment capacity and community engagement as they work to slow transmission.

But the response continues to face major challenges because the outbreak is occurring alongside insecurity and population displacement.

With people moving between affected communities and health workers struggling to reach some areas, officials face growing pressure to contain the virus before it spreads further.

The latest figures underline the scale of the challenge: an outbreak that has already become the largest Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo is continuing to expand.