The Ebola virus disease epidemic, officially declared on May 15, 2026 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is spreading faster than any other before, the Africa CDC, the health agency of the African Union (AU), said on Thursday.
"The fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak ever recorded"“
As of July 7, 600 deaths out of 1759 confirmed cases have been recorded in the DRC since the start of the current epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated on Thursday, July 9, adding that the toll remained stable – two deaths for 20 confirmed cases – in neighboring Uganda.
The Ebola virus, which is transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids of living or dead people and causes hemorrhagic fever, has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa over the past 50 years. The deadliest outbreak in the DRC resulted in nearly 2,300 deaths out of 3,500 recorded cases, between 2018 And 2020.
Read also Ebola: simple skin contact is enough to transmit the virus
"MUnfortunately, the virus continues to outpace our response. It is spreading faster than the resources deployed to control the situation." said Dr. Wessam Mankoula, head of emergency situations at Africa CDC.
“ We continue to face the Ebola epidemic, which is experiencing its fastest spread ever recorded."He noted, "not only among the Bundibugyo virus epidemics, but among all the different viruses causing Ebola," he added during an online press briefing.
During the first six weeks of the current epidemic, 1596 cases were recorded, compared to 994 during the first six weeks of the epidemic that hit West Africa between the end of 2013 and 2016, noted Dr. Mankoula.
This West African epidemic, the deadliest Ebola virus disease in history, has caused more than 11,300 deaths out of some 29,000 recorded cases, at more than 991 TPH in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
In eastern DRC, the number of cases continues to rise steadily and is estimated to double every 28 days or so, according to Dr. Mankoula.
Read also VIDEO. Zoonoses: why the risk of a pandemic is increasing worldwide
"We need more"
“ The epidemic continues to spread and its true extent has not yet been fully established.“,” Anne Ancia, WHO representative in the DRC, indicated earlier in the week.
“ Despite encouraging progress, we continue to face major challenges. Current treatment centers are operating at approximately 90% of their capacity, which puts considerable strain on the response "Sanitary," she added.
This is the 17th Ebola virus disease outbreak in the DRC, but there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo variant. A clinical trial of two treatments began on July 2, according to the WHO, which also granted emergency use authorization to the first molecular diagnostic test for this virus.
“ We need more resources", whether it be " more financial resources or the ability to deploy more human resources to control this epidemic quickly"Dr. Mankoula stressed, estimating the needs at $1.4 billion and urging donors to release funds.
The outbreak originated in Ituri, a northeastern province of the DRC bordering South Sudan and Uganda, which is plagued by violence from militias and armed groups. The virus has spread to the provinces of North and South Kivu, large swathes of which are controlled by the anti-government armed group M23.
“ Before the arrival of Ebola, millions of people were already facing conflict, hunger, population displacement, precarious basic services, and limited access to healthcare.", stressed the head of UN humanitarian operations, Tom Fletcher.
Also calling on donors to release funding and all parts "to facilitate humanitarian access," he warned in a statement that Any delay will result in deaths from Ebola and loss of life due to the broader humanitarian consequences of this epidemic.“.
English 
French