The number of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has risen to 1,203, including 321 deaths, since the latest outbreak was declared in mid-May, according to the country’s latest public health update.
The Ministry of Health also reported that 148 patients have recovered, while 419 people remain in isolation or are receiving hospital treatment, according to international media reports.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has spread across 34 health zones in three provinces, including Ituri, which remains the epicenter of the outbreak, as well as North Kivu and South Kivu.
Health authorities have identified several major challenges in containing the outbreak, including community resistance to post-mortem testing, limited treatment capacity in Ituri, and contact tracing rates that remain below the target threshold of 95%.
