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Ebola Outbreak in DRC Claims Over 500 Lives, Spreads to Neighboring Countries

From El Comercio · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reached 506, with 1,561 confirmed cases reported.
  • The outbreak, primarily in Ituri province, has spread to neighboring Uganda and France, with a 32.4% fatality rate.
  • Efforts to contain the virus include contact tracing and the introduction of new clinical trials for treatments.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has claimed 506 lives, with the government confirming 1,561 cases as of July 4, 2026. The current outbreak, predominantly affecting the eastern Ituri province, has seen the virus spread to Uganda and France. The fatality rate stands at a concerning 32.4%.

Health officials report that 628 patients are currently hospitalized or in isolation, while 253 individuals have recovered. Contact tracing efforts are ongoing, with 81.6% of contacts being monitored daily. The government highlights the "constant mobilization" of field teams, reinforced logistics, and growing community adherence to preventive measures.

Two new experimental treatments are now available for patients participating in clinical trials. The outbreak was officially declared on May 15 in Ituri, a province bordering Uganda and South Sudan, and has since expanded to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. The World Health Organization (WHO) deems the risk of further spread in sub-Saharan Africa as "high" but "low" globally. This outbreak is considered the third-worst Ebola epidemic on record.

The response is consolidated thanks to logistical reinforcement and the commitment of communities.

— DRC Ministry of Communication and MediaHighlighting the effectiveness of containment measures.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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