GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – According to the World Health Organization, there are signs of a decline in Ebola transmission within some of the most severely affected regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The most notable improvements are observed in parts of Ituri province, which is the central hub of the outbreak. Nevertheless, the epidemic continues to spread in other locations. Data released up to Sept. 13 indicates a total of 7,258 confirmed cases and 3,510 deaths across seven provinces, with the country’s overall case fatality rate at 48.4%.
South Kivu has not reported any new cases since May, and more patients are recovering nationwide. As of Sept. 13, official data recorded 1,726 recoveries across the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed optimism about recent trends, citing encouraging signs after months of rapid transmission. He emphasized, however, that the epidemic still causes fatalities and continues to expand. The outbreak now impacts 62 health zones, revealing significant disparities between affected provinces.
Despite the recent decline in transmission, Ituri remains the focal point of the outbreak. During the latest weekly period, health officials reported around 300 new cases and 160 deaths in that region. These cases accounted for nearly half of the country’s total for that period. Conversely, North Kivu has experienced an opposite trend, with weekly cases almost doubling over two weeks—from approximately 100 to over 200—highlighting the expanding transmission in that area.
Increase in North Kivu cases contrasts with declining Ituri transmission
The ongoing epidemic is driven by the Bundibugyo virus disease, a strain of Ebola that has spread across a broad geographic area since May. Ituri remains the most affected province in terms of cumulative cases, while North Kivu has become the second most impacted. Haut-Uélé also continues to report ongoing transmission. Recently, the outbreak extended into Sud-Ubangi, raising the total number of affected provinces to seven. This expansion follows months of new cases emerging in northeastern and central regions of the country.
Health teams are actively involved in clinical research as part of the response, conducting trials on treatments and post-exposure prophylaxis, especially as community participation improves. The response efforts include surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing, isolation, and clinical management. Officials are carefully monitoring infection trends since transmission patterns vary significantly between provinces and health zones. This uneven landscape means that while some areas see decreasing case numbers, others experience rapid increases simultaneously.
Ongoing efforts target multiple affected zones
The collective response involves national health authorities, WHO, Africa CDC, and numerous partner organizations collaborating with frontline medical teams. Challenges such as insecurity and population displacement hinder access to affected communities, complicating surveillance, contact tracing, and timely medical interventions. Mining regions, informal settlements, and displacement sites pose operational difficulties due to limited health infrastructure, sanitation, and services. Despite these obstacles, response teams continue their work across urban centers and remote areas.
Recent data shows tangible progress in several locations, yet the Democratic Republic of the Congo still faces widespread transmission. South Kivu remains free of new cases for months, while Ituri reports decreased transmission from previously high levels. Meanwhile, North Kivu continues to see a sharp rise in weekly infections. Authorities are analyzing each affected region separately, as the outbreak displays different patterns across the country. The more than 3,500 confirmed deaths highlight the ongoing severity of the crisis.