DR Congo Records Over 200 Deaths Amid Ongoing Ebola Outbreak

## Overview The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced on Thursday that the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has surpassed 200 deaths. The agency warned that inadequate contact‑tracing and persistent security issues are hampering the response.

## Death Toll and Case Numbers - Deaths: 202 confirmed fatalities - Confirmed Cases: 875 infections - Case‑Fatality Ratio: 23 %

These figures come roughly one month after the outbreak was first declared on 15 May.

## Major Challenges - Contact‑Tracing Gaps: Africa CDC spokesperson Wam Mankola highlighted weak follow‑up of contacts as the most concerning shortfall. - Security Constraints: Ongoing armed conflicts and limited access for response teams from Africa CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO), and partner organizations continue to obstruct contact‑tracing and other containment activities.

## Regional Impact - The three hardest‑hit provinces in the northeast—Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu—are experiencing armed clashes and large‑scale displacement, further complicating response logistics. - The outbreak has crossed into neighboring Uganda, where containment measures have been more effective. Ugandan authorities have recorded 19 cases and 2 deaths, most of them linked to travelers from the DRC.

## International Outlook - The International Committee of the Red Cross warned earlier this week that the outbreak, announced on 15 May, has not yet peaked and could take up to a year to bring under control. - The current wave marks the seventeenth Ebola flare‑up in the DRC, occurring in the absence of approved vaccines or treatments for the Bonguobogui (Bunduobogu) strain driving this surge.

Source: France 24