Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has recorded 5,515 confirmed Ebola cases and 2,642 deaths since the current outbreak began, resulting in a mortality rate of nearly 48 percent, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Ituri province remains the epicenter of the epidemic, accounting for about 85 percent of cases and 79 percent of fatalities. The outbreak has spread to six provinces in total.
WHO reports that in the initial 100 days, response efforts have expanded significantly. Testing facilities grew from a single laboratory to 19, capable of processing over 3,000 samples daily. Treatment capacity increased from fewer than 10 beds to more than 1,300. Community engagement reached over 2.5 million people, and contact tracing improved from 9 percent to 84 percent.
Despite these advances, insecurity, conflict-related displacement, attacks on health facilities, and limited access to care continue to hinder the response. Approximately 60 percent of Ebola-related deaths in the past six weeks have occurred outside treatment centers, underscoring challenges in early detection and patient referral.
WHO stresses the need for scaled-up action led by trained national and local authorities, supported by partners, with interventions tailored to local transmission patterns and operational gaps in active hotspots. The epidemic is further complicated by a broader humanitarian crisis, including increasing hunger in affected communities.