The number of cases in the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to rise.
May 24, 2026, 03:48May 24, 2026, 03:48
According to the Congolese government, 867 suspected cases have been reported since the outbreak began, of which 204 people have died. That is more than 100 infections and a good 30 more deaths than were known the day before.
Red Cross workers at the funeral of an Ebola victim.Image: keystone
91 infections were confirmed in the laboratory, including 10 that were fatal. The World Health Organization believes the actual number is significantly higher because the outbreak went unnoticed for weeks and not all cases are reported.
So far, five further confirmed cases are known in neighboring Uganda that are related to the outbreak in eastern Congo. The country does not publish figures on suspected cases.
Rare Bundibugyo type of Ebola virus
Ebola fever is a contagious and life-threatening infectious disease. The virus is transmitted through physical contact and contact with body fluids. In 2014 and 2015, more than 11,000 people died in an Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
The latest outbreak began in the northeastern province of Ituri, which borders Uganda and South Sudan, according to Africa CDC. The outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo type of Ebola virus, for which there is neither a vaccine nor a specific treatment, makes the situation particularly difficult. (sda/dpa)