Ebola outbreak in DRC expands to 63 zones as contact‑tracing and staffing gaps widen
The Democratic Republic of Congo now reports about 7,890 confirmed cases of Ebola and 3,799 deaths, with the Bundibugyo strain confirmed by the World Health Organization to have reached two new health zones, Bulu in Sud‑Ubangi and Dungu in Haut‑Uele, bringing the total to 63 zones across seven provinces. Health officials say only about 30,000 contacts have been listed, far short of the roughly 420,000 contacts epidemiologists estimate are needed, and Dr. Jean Kaseya of the Africa CDC warned that more than 80% of new infections are occurring among people not on existing lists. Severe shortages of nurses, doctors and other staff are hampering treatment centres, a strike over unpaid wages has further limited capacity, and UNICEF psychosocial expert Wivine Kabala is counseling patients and families in Bunia while Save the Children’s Dr. Babou Rukengeza Makanda coordinates daily response efforts with the Ministry of Health and WHO.
How this was covered
- Reported deaths range from 2,911 to 6,000 across outlets
Why it matters
The widening outbreak and gaps in contact tracing and staffing threaten to prolong the crisis and increase risk to communities across the region.
How this story developed
- Aug 23 Ebola toll in DRC climbs to over 5,500 cases as Pope calls for global aid
- Aug 31 The epidemic has spread to the Biena and Manguredjipa health zones, increasing the total number of affected zones to 60.
- Sep 1 More than 50,000 vaccine doses arrived for frontline workers.
- Sep 2 Confirmed cases rise to 6,186 and deaths increase to 3,007.
- Sep 13 A case confirmed in South‑Ubangi marked the virus’s spread to a seventh province.
- Sep 17 Confirmed cases have risen to over 7,200 and deaths to more than 3,500 since the outbreak was first declared.
- Sep 21 Vaccination of frontline health workers began in Ituri province.
- Sep 27 WHO confirmed spread of the Bundibugyo strain to the Bulu and Dungu health zones.
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