The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has claimed 600 lives since its emergence, according to the latest update from the World Health Organization (WHO), based on data from Congolese health authorities.

The total number of confirmed cases stands at 1,759, with a recent report highlighting 20 cases and two deaths in neighboring Uganda.

According to WHO Representative Anne Ancia, the true extent of the outbreak remains difficult to assess due to ongoing transmission. ‘The disease continues to spread, and its full scope has not yet been fully determined,’ she noted during a video conference with WHO headquarters in Geneva.

Ancia acknowledged some progress in responding to the crisis, but warned that treatment centers are operating at only 90% capacity, putting significant pressure on the healthcare system.

The outbreak’s epicenter is located in Ituri Province, where the border with Uganda and South Sudan lies. The virus has also been detected in neighboring provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, where insecurity remains high due to the presence of the M23 armed group.

WHO stressed that population displacement, ongoing violence, and health system fragility complicate efforts to combat the disease. The organization highlighted the importance of humanitarian needs, including protection for civilians, food access, and essential healthcare services.

The 17th DRC Ebola outbreak, declared on May 15, is caused by the variant Bundibugyo, for which no approved vaccine or treatment is currently available.

To combat this crisis, a clinical trial evaluating two experimental treatments was launched on July 2. WHO has also authorized emergency use of the first molecular diagnostic test designed to detect this rare virus strain.

Since its discovery over half a century ago, Ebola has claimed more than 15,000 lives in Africa. The most severe outbreak in the DRC, between 2018 and 2020, resulted in nearly 2,300 deaths from approximately 3,500 reported cases.