The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 906 suspected cases of Ebola and 223 suspected deaths linked to an ongoing outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with additional cases also confirmed in Uganda.
According to WHO officials, the outbreak has so far recorded 125 confirmed cases in the DRC, including 17 confirmed deaths across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.
Uganda has also reported seven confirmed cases, three of which were imported from the DRC, along with one death. However, health authorities say no community transmission has been detected in Uganda at this stage.
Outbreak may have started two months ago
WHO officials believe the outbreak likely began around two months ago but went undetected for an extended period while spreading in densely populated regions of eastern DRC. The Bundibugyo strain is considered rare and particularly concerning due to its severity and limited treatment options.
The WHO previously declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, citing challenges in tracing and isolating contacts due to delayed detection.
High fatality rate raises concern
Health experts estimate that the fatality rate among confirmed cases ranges between 30% and 50%, meaning up to five in ten infected individuals may die from the disease.
“This is huge. It means that up to five out of 10 people are likely to die,” said Anais Legand of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme. She noted, however, that these figures remain preliminary and could change as more data becomes available.
Officials also stressed that early medical intervention can significantly improve survival chances.
Response efforts underway
The WHO says testing capacity is being expanded, with efforts ongoing to clear a backlog of suspected case samples. Health officials expect the number of suspected cases to rise as surveillance improves.
The first recovered patient in the DRC has already been discharged after testing negative twice, a development WHO officials say offers hope that more recoveries are possible with timely treatment.
Despite growing case numbers, WHO officials caution that it is still too early to determine whether the outbreak has peaked.
“As for whether the peak has passed, investigations are still ongoing. I don’t think we can say that at this stage,” Legand said.
