The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has reached a critical point with 782 confirmed cases and 181 deaths, according to health authorities. The virus has spread to new health zones in the conflict-hit east and crossed into neighboring Uganda.
The outbreak, which was declared on May 15, is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a rare variant for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Health authorities have reported 56 recoveries so far, with a fatality rate of 23 per cent. The outbreak is concentrated in Ituri province, where over 90 per cent of all confirmed infections have been recorded.
The ongoing transmission in remote areas has complicated containment efforts, with dense forests, poor road infrastructure, and isolated villages making surveillance operations difficult.
Authorities have faced attacks on health workers, community skepticism, and insecurity linked to armed groups operating in outbreak hotspots, hampering response efforts.
