KINSHASA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / RankWire.AI / – According to official data through Aug. 7, the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has resulted in 1,916 fatalities and 4,209 confirmed cases. This total represents an increase of 29 deaths compared to the 1,887 reported in the previous update. Additionally, health officials have identified 595 patients in isolation for treatment, while 828 individuals have recovered from the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak.
Ituri continues to be the epicenter of the outbreak, with 3,636 confirmed cases and 1,551 deaths. North Kivu has documented 470 cases and 315 deaths. Haut Uele has reported 91 cases and 44 deaths, whereas Tshopo has nine cases and five deaths. South Kivu’s numbers include three cases and one fatality. Overall, the outbreak has affected 53 out of 140 health zones across the five provinces impacted.
The most recent daily update added 89 confirmed cases and 21 deaths to the national figures. Of these, 73 new infections occurred in Ituri, with North Kivu registering 12 cases and Haut Uele four. Officials stated that 83.4% of identified contacts are currently under follow-up in the affected regions. Surveillance teams continue to update, review, and harmonize case and mortality data as records are refreshed.
Bundibugyo Virus Outbreak Spreading Through Eastern Provinces
The Democratic Republic of the Congo confirmed the presence of Bundibugyo virus in May after laboratory testing identified the pathogen. The World Health Organization declared the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17. The virus can induce symptoms such as fever, weakness, body pain, vomiting, and more severe conditions, including bleeding in some cases. This outbreak marks the 17th Ebola epidemic in the country since the virus’s initial discovery in 1976.
Response efforts coordinated by the Congolese Ministry of Health include surveillance, testing, isolation, contact tracing, and clinical support. Measures to prevent transmission, such as infection control protocols and safe burial practices, are actively enforced. These initiatives target communities experiencing insecurity and high population mobility in eastern regions of Congo. Health teams persist in monitoring contacts and investigating suspected cases across affected zones and major travel corridors.
No Approved Vaccine for Bundibugyo Virus Currently
Unlike the Zaire strain of Ebola, Bundibugyo virus currently lacks an approved vaccine or specific treatment options. Medical management primarily involves supportive care, such as hydration, symptom relief, and close clinical observation. Ongoing research explores candidate vaccines and experimental therapies. Surveillance outside Congo has also identified infections, with Uganda reporting 20 confirmed cases and two fatalities by late July. No new confirmed cases have been reported there after June 21.
The current outbreak is the largest documented since the virus’s discovery, with cases concentrated mainly in DR Congo, especially in Ituri and North Kivu. Despite expanded efforts in surveillance, isolation, and contact follow-up, the tally of cases and deaths continues to grow. Authorities remain committed to laboratory testing, case detection, patient care, and infection control, updating the national figures as new information from ongoing surveillance is collected.