Congo reports 72 new Ebola cases Sunday, one of the largest daily jumps since outbreak was declared

Congolese authorities reported 72 new Ebola cases on Sunday, marking one of the highest daily jumps since the outbreak was declared a month ago. The virus is spreading quickly through a remote region, complicating efforts to track and contain the disease.

Kate White, emergency medical coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Congo, stated that the outbreak is outpacing the response. "No one knows the true scale or exactly where the disease is spreading in Congo," she said. Treatment centers in the outbreak's epicenter are overwhelmed, with many patients arriving in advanced stages of illness and often not identified as contacts of infected individuals beforehand.

The Ministry of Health noted that the rising numbers reflect increased surveillance, with community members reporting suspected cases. However, the total confirmed cases have climbed to 782, including 181 confirmed deaths. The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, is concentrated in the eastern Ituri province, with cases also appearing in North Kivu, South Kivu, and spreading into Uganda.

Contact tracing coverage has dropped to 56%, a significant decrease from the previous week. This is attributed to community resistance in some areas and the outbreak's expansion into new health zones, straining surveillance teams. The displacement of nearly a million people due to years of conflict in Ituri further hinders tracing efforts, as does the movement of thousands of miners in the mineral-rich region. The current fatality rate for the outbreak stands at 23%.

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One month on, the Ebola disease outbreak is outpacing the response effort. No one knows the true scale or exactly where the disease is spreading in Congo.