DRC Ebola outbreak surges into sixth province, death toll climbs past 2,100

DRC Ebola outbreak reaches sixth province

Health officials confirmed Tuesday that the DRC Ebola outbreak has crossed into Bas‑Uele, marking the sixth province affected since the flare‑up began in early 2023. A man who traveled from Haut‑Uele died in Bas‑Uele, underscoring the virus’s rapid spread. Government data released on Tuesday list ↓ 2,100 deaths out of ↓ 4,500 reported cases, a fatality ratio that eclipses the 2014‑16 West African crisis at the same point in its timeline.

“We are on track for the deadliest Ebola episode in recorded history,” warned Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director‑General, speaking to the press.

International partners, including the United Nations and NGOs, have accelerated vaccine deployment and contact‑tracing efforts. The World Health Organization, Reuters reported, is urging neighboring regions to heighten surveillance as cross‑border movement remains a key risk vector. AP News notes that the outbreak’s trajectory could strain already fragile health infrastructure across the Democratic Republic of the Congo.