The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo continues to expand, with two more health zones now affected, according to the latest government figures.
The Ministry of Health said the outbreak has reached 60 health zones across the region. The newly affected areas are Biena and Manguredjipa in North Kivu province.
The spread has raised fresh concerns because North Kivu has recorded a much higher death rate than the overall outbreak. Health officials link the higher fatality rate partly to delays in reaching patients and starting treatment.
Government figures show that the outbreak has now recorded 5,794 confirmed cases. At least 2,786 people have died.
Ituri remains the main hotspot
Most cases remain concentrated in northeastern Ituri province. The region accounts for more than 83% of the reported infections.
The outbreak began in an already difficult environment. Insecurity, displacement and large movements of people have made it harder for health teams to trace contacts and identify new infections.
A strike by health workers has also disrupted response efforts.
Officials declared the outbreak in mid-May. However, experts believe the virus had already been spreading since February.
The outbreak initially affected only three health zones. It has now expanded to nearly 60, showing how quickly the Bundibugyo virus has moved through local communities.
Health workers begin vaccinations
Congo began vaccinating health workers and other frontline responders on Thursday.
Officials are using Ervebo, a vaccine that proved effective against the more common Zaire species of Ebola during previous outbreaks.
However, the current outbreak involves the rarer Bundibugyo virus. No licensed vaccine or approved treatment currently exists specifically for this virus.
Clinical trials are now underway to determine whether an effective vaccine can be developed.
The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak remains out of control. It could eventually surpass the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which killed more than 11,000 people.
Cross-border spread remains a concern
Authorities have introduced several measures to slow transmission. These include limits on public gatherings, social distancing measures and restrictions at some airports.
Those measures have disrupted daily life in six affected provinces. Ituri has faced additional challenges because of continuing rebel violence.
The government has also installed health and sanitation equipment at selected locations. Advocacy groups, however, say officials need to do more to build trust with local communities.
Many infections are occurring outside the network of monitored contacts. That makes traditional contact-tracing efforts much harder.
The risk also extends beyond Congo’s borders. Uganda declared itself free of Ebola last month, but the WHO continues to monitor the possibility of new infections crossing borders.
WHO expert Marie Roseline Belizaire said the Central African Republic currently faces the highest risk of spillover. South Sudan follows closely behind.
With the outbreak spreading faster than response teams can contain it, health authorities face a growing race to expand vaccination, surveillance and treatment efforts across eastern Congo.
