Congo's Ebola Outbreak Grows to 782 Cases, Death Toll Reaches 181

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing a worsening Ebola outbreak , with the number of confirmed cases rising to 782 , including 181 deaths , according to the Congolese Ministry of Health. The latest figures were released in a statement posted on social media platform X on Sunday.

Health officials warned that the true scale of the outbreak may be significantly higher. The outbreak was officially confirmed on May 15, weeks after it is believed to have begun, while contact tracing coverage has dropped to 56 per cent , raising concerns about undetected transmission.

The outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus , for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment . This differs from the more common Zaire strain that caused most of Congo's previous Ebola outbreaks and for which vaccines and therapies are available. Authorities reported that 56 patients have recovered , while the outbreak's current fatality rate stands at 23 per cent .

More than 90 per cent of infections have been recorded in Ituri Province in eastern Congo. Cases have also been detected in North Kivu and South Kivu , with the virus crossing the border into neighboring Uganda.

Public health efforts are being complicated by ongoing insecurity and displacement. According to the United Nations, nearly one million people have been forced to flee conflict in Ituri, making it difficult for health workers to trace contacts and monitor potential infections. Remote terrain, poor road infrastructure, and the constant movement of artisanal miners further hinder surveillance efforts.

Authorities also face challenges from attacks on healthcare workers, public skepticism toward health interventions, and continued armed conflict in outbreak hotspots. Despite these obstacles, health officials are intensifying surveillance, contact tracing, community outreach, and cross-border coordination in an effort to contain the spread of the deadly disease and prevent a broader regional health crisis.