Ebola Death Toll in DR Congo Reaches 600 as Outbreak Spreads to New Province

Health officials warn of widening crisis after infections are confirmed in a fourth province, raising concerns over the virus’s continued spread

By Abdullahi Yusuf

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed 600 lives, with health officials reporting a continued rise in infections as the virus spreads beyond its main epicentre.

Congolese health authorities said on Wednesday that 1,759 confirmed cases have now been recorded since the outbreak began. Around 750 people have recovered, while 285 patients remain under treatment.

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has affected 37 health zones across the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.

Health officials said Ituri remains the worst-affected province, accounting for more than 90% of confirmed infections and over 84% of all reported deaths since the outbreak was declared on 15 May.

The latest update also confirmed that the virus has spread to Tshopo Province, where two infections were detected in the city of Kisangani.

According to health authorities, both cases were traced to Nia-Nia Health Zone in Ituri, indicating the continued movement of infections beyond the outbreak’s main hotspot.

The development comes as the World Health Organization’s Africa office warned that the outbreak continues to spread into health zones that had previously remained unaffected.

The WHO also expressed concern over the increasing number of deaths occurring within communities before patients can receive medical care.

According to the agency, an assessment of 430 confirmed deaths reviewed by 5 July found that about 400 people died before reaching an Ebola treatment centre.

The agency said the findings suggest that systems for detecting cases, referring patients and isolating infections are failing to keep pace with the spread of the virus.

The latest figures underline the continuing challenge facing health authorities as they work to contain an outbreak that is expanding into new areas while claiming hundreds of lives.

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