Ebola Crisis Deepens in DRC: Over 1,500 Cases and 500 Deaths Confirmed

The Ebola virus has claimed over 15,000 lives in Africa since the 50s. The deadliest outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had reported nearly 2,300 deaths for 3,500 cases recorded between 2018 and 2020.

For this outbreak, declared officially on May 15th, 506 deaths and 1,561 confirmed cases have been reported in the DRC, while two deaths and 20 confirmed cases remain in neighboring Uganda, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in a July 4th update.

A clinical trial testing two treatments against the Bundibugyo strain, the virus’s original source, began last week. The WHO has also granted emergency use authorization for the first molecular diagnostic test.

High Mortality Rate

The crisis’s epicenter, with its true scope still difficult to measure and potentially lasting several months, is located in Ituri Province, North-East Congolese bordering South Sudan and Uganda.

In the mining town of Mongbwalu, considered the outbreak’s starting point, high mortality rates (50.7%) suggest ongoing challenges in early treatment or access to healthcare for patients.

The virus is also present in nearby provinces of Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu, where capitals and large areas are controlled by the M23 armed group.

In Nord-Kivu, a mortality rate of 57.4% is considered ‘preoccupying’ by Congolese health authorities. In Sud-Kivu province, no new cases have been confirmed since May 26th.

Health authorities in M23-controlled zones announced last week that the outbreak had been eradicated. This information has not been verified by AFP sources independently.

In response to this announcement, border exchanges between eastern DRC and Rwanda have partially resumed after several weeks of closure, according to AFP journalists.

Air travel links between the two countries are frequent in this region, particularly for trade. Many Congolese residents from the area also travel to Rwanda for flights through Kigali since Goma Airport was closed by M23 at the beginning of 2025.