More than 300 people have died from Ebola in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo over the past week, marking one of the deadliest seven-day periods since the outbreak began. The latest government figures highlight the growing challenge facing health workers as the virus continues to spread rapidly.
According to data from the Congolese Ministry of Health, the outbreak had reached 5,514 reported cases and 2,642 deaths by Saturday. A total of 317 deaths were recorded in the preceding seven days.
However, local experts warn that the actual scale of the outbreak could be substantially larger. Because transmission began weeks before the outbreak was officially confirmed, the number of infections may be as much as three times higher than reported.
The outbreak, caused by the relatively rare Bundibugyo virus, is developing at an unprecedented pace. Many patients are dying outside designated treatment centers, making it more difficult for health authorities to track infections and provide timely care.
Nearly half of all confirmed patients have died, giving the outbreak a reported case-fatality rate of 47.9%. The rate is considerably higher in difficult-to-access areas, including North Kivu province, where it has reached 68.6%.
Ituri province remains the current epicenter. Health officials say many newly identified patients had not been previously monitored as contacts of known cases, complicating efforts to contain transmission.
One of the biggest obstacles is the lack of vaccines and treatments specifically approved for the Bundibugyo virus. On Friday, Congo received more than 16,000 doses of Ervebo, a vaccine that has been effective against another, more common Ebola virus species.
The World Health Organization plans to use Ervebo in clinical research to determine whether it can provide protection against the Bundibugyo virus. WHO says there is currently no certainty that the vaccine will work against this strain, although early laboratory and animal studies suggest it could offer some level of protection.
Authorities have not yet announced when vaccination will begin among frontline health workers. Residents in affected areas have expressed hope that the vaccine will help slow the spread of the disease.
The outbreak is unfolding amid severe logistical and security challenges. Rebel activity and large-scale population movements are making it harder for medical teams to reach affected communities.
Health workers in Ituri and other affected provinces are also dealing with unpaid staff, interruptions in response operations, difficult road conditions, distrust among communities and misinformation questioning the existence of Ebola.
Experts believe the virus may have been circulating in the mining town of Mongbwalu as early as February—several months before authorities officially declared the outbreak on May 15.
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