Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has reached nearly 2,000 confirmed cases and over 700 deaths, making it the third-largest documented Ebola epidemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Director of Health Emergencies, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu.
This outbreak has seen the fastest growth of any Ebola event managed by WHO. In recent days, daily new infections have exceeded 80 cases in a single 24-hour period.
Dr. Ihekweazu noted that about 80 percent of new cases are outside known contact lists, signaling infections from unknown transmission chains. Many recent deaths involve individuals who died in communities without accessing healthcare or receiving treatment, which is particularly concerning.
Most new Ebola cases—up to 95 percent—occur in Ituri Province, where the outbreak began, but the virus has recently spread to Haut-Uele and Tshopo provinces. WHO's response includes intensifying efforts at the outbreak's epicenter and mapping travel routes to assess the risk of new cases elsewhere.
Therapeutic clinical trials are underway, but there are no approved treatments for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus species involved. WHO emphasizes that early detection and prompt supportive care can greatly increase survival and reduce community transmission.