DRC Ebola Cases Rise to 515, Including 91 Deaths

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have raised the confirmed case count for the Ebola outbreak to 515, with 91 fatalities reported since the epidemic was declared on May 15. The latest figures indicate a concerning rise, with 27 new cases identified in the 24 hours preceding the most recent bulletin.

The National Institute of Public Health (INSP) stated that 283 patients are currently hospitalized or under isolation. While the number of recovered individuals has increased to twelve, the affected health zones remain at 25 across three Congolese provinces. The rate of contact tracing has slightly decreased to 50.3%, down from 67.2% in the previous report, and the overall case fatality rate stands at 17.7%.

The outbreak originated in Ituri province, bordering South Sudan and Uganda, which continues to be the epicenter with 487 cases. However, the virus has since spread to North Kivu province (25 cases) and South Kivu province (3 cases). The epidemic has also crossed borders into Uganda, where 19 infections have been confirmed, including 14 cases believed to be imported from the DRC, resulting in two deaths.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, which has a fatality rate between 30% and 50% and for which no authorized vaccine or specific treatment exists. The WHO considers the risk of an outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa to be "high" and the global risk to be "low." The organization estimates the virus began circulating in Ituri approximately two months before the official declaration of the outbreak, which it classified as an "international public health emergency" on May 17.

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Community attention, prevention, and awareness activities continue in the affected areas.