Congolese authorities have reported one of the highest daily increases in Ebola cases, with 72 new infections confirmed in a 24-hour period. This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 782 in the month-old outbreak, including 181 confirmed deaths, 29 of which were reported in the same 24-hour span. While the rising numbers indicate the virus is spreading rapidly, officials attribute the increase also to improved surveillance, with community members reporting suspected cases and response teams investigating them.
The current outbreak, confirmed on May 15 but suspected to have begun weeks earlier, is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, unlike most of Congo's previous 16 outbreaks which were caused by the more common Zaire virus for which a vaccine exists. The number of cases is believed to be higher than officially reported.
Contact tracing coverage has decreased to 56%, a sharp drop from the previous week, complicating efforts to identify individuals who may have been exposed. Factors contributing to tracing difficulties include community resistance in some areas and the rapid expansion of the outbreak into new health zones, increasing the workload for surveillance teams. The outbreak is concentrated in Congo's eastern Ituri province, accounting for over 90% of cases, with additional cases in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and has spread across the border into Uganda.
Years of conflict in Ituri have displaced nearly a million people, according to the UN humanitarian office, further hindering contact tracing as individuals flee attacks or move frequently. The province's dense forests, poor roads, and remote villages, which can take days to reach, along with the transient population of miners, present significant challenges for surveillance teams.
To date, 40 people have recovered since the outbreak began, with a current fatality rate of 23%. The World Health Organization is intensifying testing, contact tracing, and treatment, with substantial supplies arriving in Congo. Africa's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is deploying technical expertise and supporting laboratory systems, case finding, and community engagement to accelerate the response. The agency has committed to supporting affected countries until transmission is stopped and urged partners and donors to mobilize resources.
Despite the escalating health crisis, daily life continues, with populations adjusting to the ongoing outbreak.