KINSHASA, Congo — Health authorities in Congo have recorded one of the largest single-day jumps in Ebola infections since the current outbreak began, with ongoing obstacles such as inadequate contact tracing, regional instability, and financial shortfalls continuing to slow efforts to contain the disease.
Congo’s Ministry of Health announced Sunday that 72 new cases were confirmed within a single 24-hour window, pushing the total number of confirmed infections to 782. That same report included 32 additional deaths, bringing the confirmed death toll to 181.
Officials believe the true number of cases is likely even greater. The outbreak was officially confirmed on May 15, several weeks after it is thought to have actually started. Additionally, the rate of contact tracing coverage has dropped to just 56%, a notable decline from the previous week.
This outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. Unlike the Zaire strain — which was responsible for the majority of Congo’s 16 previous Ebola outbreaks — the Bundibugyo virus currently has no approved vaccine or treatment available.
So far, 56 patients have recovered from the disease. The current fatality rate stands at 23%, according to the ministry.
The World Health Organization said Sunday that it is stepping up testing, contact tracing, and treatment efforts in response to the escalating situation.
Africa’s leading health organization also announced it is sending technical specialists and bolstering laboratory systems, active case identification, and community outreach to speed up the overall response to the outbreak.
The head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Jean Kaseya, issued a call to action, stating: “We remain committed to supporting affected countries until transmission is stopped. We call on partners and donors to urgently mobilize resources to strengthen the response and save lives.”
The vast majority of cases — more than 90% — are located in Congo’s eastern Ituri province. Additional cases have been identified in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and the disease has crossed the border into neighboring Uganda.
Containment efforts in Ituri face enormous challenges. According to the United Nations humanitarian office, nearly one million people have been displaced in the region due to armed conflict, making it extremely difficult to track the movements of those who may have been exposed to the virus. People are frequently on the move, either fleeing violence or relocating across a vast province characterized by thick forests, poor road infrastructure, and remote villages that can require days of travel to reach.
Contact tracing is further complicated by the presence of thousands of artisanal miners who routinely travel between isolated work sites throughout the mineral-rich region.
