Kinshasa, Congo – The latest government data from the Democratic Republic of Congo shows a worrying rise in the number of Ebola cases. The total number of confirmed cases has jumped to 689, including 139 deaths, according to the epidemiological report issued as of Thursday.
In the past 24 hours, 17 new cases of Ebola have been recorded, all concentrated in Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak. Experts believe this current outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain. It is now considered one of the most complex and dangerous Ebola epidemics in recent years due to its rapid spread in conflict-ridden regions.
Security challenges are hindering contact tracing.
Medical teams and international aid organizations face formidable obstacles on the ground. Insecurity, chaotic population displacement, and a lack of trust in authorities among local communities are undermining efforts to identify contacts and isolate infected individuals. More than 4,000 contacts are currently under close medical observation in the three affected provinces. However, field reports reveal a shocking reality: epidemiological surveillance teams have been able to reach less than half of this number so far.
UN warns of a catastrophe in displaced persons camps
In a serious humanitarian development, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) confirmed two deaths linked to the deadly virus in a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in eastern Somalia. The agency stated that the two deceased were IDPs residing in the Kabangeba camp, which is overcrowded with approximately 30,000 refugees living in dire humanitarian conditions.
UNHCR stated: “The risk of the virus spreading rapidly within these overcrowded displacement sites represents a catastrophic and deeply worrying scenario.”
The virus has now spread geographically to three major regions. This follows the World Health Organization’s declaration on May 17 that the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. As a result, an urgent global response is required to control the epidemic before it spreads internationally.
