Ebola cases in DR Congo surpass 1,150 as authorities warn outbreak still rising

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has climbed to 1,155, with health authorities warning that the outbreak is continuing to spread and may not yet have reached its peak.

Government data released on Thursday showed that increased epidemiological surveillance was helping officials identify infections earlier, even as community transmission of the virus expanded.

Africanews reports that authorities said contact tracing remains one of the biggest challenges in containing the outbreak, with the Ministry of Health achieving only a 55 percent coverage rate.

Officials acknowledged that the true number of infections could be significantly higher, as many cases may still be going undetected.

Read more: WHO warns Ebola outbreak in DR Congo may be wider than reported

More than 35,000 people are believed to have been exposed to infected individuals as of last week, underscoring the scale of the public health response required.

The outbreak has been linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments.

However, the World Health Organization is expected to begin deploying experimental therapies next week in an effort to improve patient outcomes.

So far, the outbreak—centered in Ituri province—has claimed more than 300 lives, while around 100 people have recovered from the disease.

The Congolese government has also tightened travel measures after a doctor who travelled from Kinshasa tested positive for Ebola upon arrival in France, raising concerns about the potential for cross-border transmission.

Health authorities continue to urge vigilance, rapid case detection and strengthened contact tracing as they work to contain one of the country’s most serious Ebola outbreaks in recent years.

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