DR Congo Ebola outbreak tops 1,500 deaths as response falters

The Democratic Republic of the Congo reports a cumulative total of 3,442 Ebola cases and 1,521 deaths, pushing the death toll past the 1,500 mark after a sharp weekly increase. The crisis is centered in the remote Ituri province, which accounts for the majority of infections, while five other provinces, including the major city of Kisangani, have also reported cases. Ongoing armed conflict and weak infrastructure have limited government reach, complicating contact tracing and fueling community distrust.

A lack of an approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo variant and recent attacks on health facilities have further hampered containment. Health personnel in Ituri have staged strikes over unpaid wages and unsafe conditions, disrupting surveillance and treatment. Africa CDC notes that most recent deaths occurred outside treatment centres due to unsafe handling of bodies. Despite the grim local toll, the World Health Organization maintains that the chance of the disease spreading globally remains low.