The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to escalate, with confirmed infections surpassing 1,800 and the virus spreading into a fourth northeastern province, underscoring the mounting challenge facing health authorities despite an intensified international response.
According to the Congolese Health Ministry's latest situation report released Saturday, the number of confirmed Ebola cases has risen to 1,830 since the outbreak was declared on May 15. The outbreak has claimed 648 lives, while 780 patients remain under treatment and 284 people have recovered.
The epidemic has largely been concentrated in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, where health officials continue to strengthen surveillance, case tracking and community outreach efforts. However, the outbreak expanded Friday after authorities confirmed seven fatal Ebola cases in the Wamba health zone of Haut-Uele province, marking the virus' spread into a fourth province.
Health officials said national coordination has been reinforced across affected regions, with efforts focused on faster detection of infections, stronger epidemiological surveillance and greater community engagement to slow transmission.
