DR Congo Ebola Death Toll Reaches 600, WHO Data Shows
GENEVA- The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 600, according to updated figures published by the World Health Organization on Thursday, underscoring the rapid spread of the disease less than two months after the outbreak was declared.
The latest data from the U.N. health agency showed 1,759 confirmed Ebola cases and 600 confirmed deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the outbreak was officially declared in mid-May. The updated figures were released just three days after the reported death toll surpassed 500.
The WHO said the figures were based on information provided by health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak has produced a case fatality rate of 34%, according to the agency’s data.
Health authorities have also recorded 285 recoveries, while 304 suspected cases remain under investigation as efforts continue to contain the outbreak.
The epidemic is concentrated in the northeastern province of Ituri, although infections have been reported across four provinces in the country. The Democratic Republic of Congo declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15 after several deaths were detected in the mineral-rich Ituri province, an area affected by the presence of armed groups.
The current outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a relatively rare species for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments.
In an effort to identify effective therapies, clinical trials involving two experimental treatment approaches began in the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 2. The study is assessing the effectiveness of the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral drug remdesivir, both individually and in combination.
The WHO said Ebola is transmitted through close contact with infected individuals or exposure to contaminated bodily fluids, making rapid detection, isolation of cases and contact tracing central to outbreak control.
The outbreak has also spread beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo. In neighboring Uganda, the WHO reported 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths, while 17 patients have recovered.
The latest figures highlight the continuing public health challenge posed by Ebola in central Africa, particularly in regions where insecurity and difficult access can complicate disease surveillance and response efforts.
