Kinshasa: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed more than 4,000 people, making it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country's history.
The latest figures from the Congolese Health Ministry show 4,018 deaths among 8,300 confirmed cases. More than 2,000 people have recovered from the disease.
The outbreak has affected seven provinces and continues to put heavy pressure on the country's health system. Although transmission has slowed in parts of Ituri Province, the virus continues to spread in other areas of eastern Congo.
The outbreak was declared in Ituri Province on May 15 after health authorities investigated a cluster of unexplained deaths in the Mongbwalu health zone. Laboratory testing in Kinshasa confirmed Bundibugyo virus, and the government officially declared the Ebola outbreak the same day.
Bundibugyo virus is a species of orthoebolavirus that causes Ebola disease. There is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus, although researchers are testing possible vaccines and treatments. Patients are being provided supportive medical care.
The outbreak has grown at an unusually rapid pace. By late September, the World Health Organization had recorded more than 8,200 confirmed cases and nearly 4,000 deaths. The newer figures from the Congolese Health Ministry have now pushed the reported death toll above the 4,000 mark.
The current outbreak has surpassed the previous major Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which lasted from 2018 to 2020 and caused 2,287 deaths from 3,470 reported cases.
It is now the second largest Ebola outbreak recorded globally, after the 2014 to 2016 West African epidemic, which killed more than 11,000 people.
Health authorities are facing major difficulties in containing the disease. Insecurity in parts of eastern Congo has made it difficult for medical teams to reach affected communities, monitor contacts and identify new infections.
Population movements are another concern. Thousands of displaced people recently fled a camp affected by Ebola after soldiers entered the area. The movement raised concerns that people could leave an area where Ebola response teams were carrying out surveillance and contact tracing.
Mistrust and resistance among some communities have also complicated the response. Fear, misinformation and concerns about Ebola treatment centres can discourage people from seeking medical care or cooperating with response teams.
Health workers are also facing risks while responding to the outbreak. A Médecins Sans Frontières doctor working on the Ebola response recently tested positive for Bundibugyo virus and was being transferred to the Netherlands for treatment under strict medical procedures.
In another recent incident, Marie Célestin Karondwa, a Congolese politician who had publicly supported the government's Ebola response, was attacked at his home in Butembo in North Kivu. His home was set on fire and he later died from his injuries.
The outbreak has also disrupted ordinary health services in some affected areas. Earlier health reports found reduced access to essential medical care, including services for mothers and children, as health facilities and communities dealt with the Ebola response.
The seven affected provinces are Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut Uélé, Bas Uélé, Tshopo and Sud Ubangi. The expansion into Sud Ubangi has increased concerns about further transmission and the possibility of cases reaching neighbouring countries.
Uganda, which recorded linked Ebola cases earlier in the year, declared its outbreak over in August after recording 20 confirmed cases and one probable case. The situation has nevertheless highlighted the risk posed by population movement across the border.
The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17. The decision reflected concerns about the rapid growth of the outbreak, population movement, insecurity and the risk of international spread.
Health authorities continue to carry out surveillance, treatment, contact tracing and research into vaccines and treatments. However, reported declines in cases in some areas need careful interpretation because insecurity and limited access can also reduce the number of infections detected.
With transmission continuing in several areas, authorities face the challenge of expanding the response while maintaining access to communities affected by insecurity and displacement.