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The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has claimed more than 200 lives, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Africa CDC reported 202 deaths out of 875 confirmed cases, indicating a case fatality rate of approximately 23% since the outbreak was declared on May 15. Officials say the situation remains critical due to weak contact tracing and limited access to affected areas.
Health experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) have warned that insecurity and difficult terrain in eastern DRC are severely hampering response efforts. Many affected communities are in hard-to-reach areas, complicating surveillance, isolation, and treatment activities.
Dr. Wessam Mankoula of the Africa CDC said contact tracing remains insufficient, noting that response teams are struggling to operate effectively due to security constraints and logistical barriers.
The outbreak is the 17th recorded in the DRC and is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
The hardest-hit provinces include Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu in northeastern DRC—regions already affected by prolonged armed conflict and large-scale population displacement, further complicating containment efforts.
Health authorities also confirmed that the virus has spread to neighboring Uganda, where 19 cases and two deaths have been recorded. Most infections in Uganda are linked to travel from the DRC, although containment measures have limited further transmission.
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