Ebola Cases in Congo Surge to 782, with 181 Deaths Reported

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Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak has grown to 782 confirmed cases, including 181 deaths, the country’s Ministry of Health said on Sunday evening in a statement posted on X.

Health authorities believe the real number of infections may be higher. The outbreak was officially confirmed on May 15, though it is thought to have started weeks earlier. Contact tracing has also weakened, with coverage falling to 56%, down sharply from the previous week.

The outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rarer form of the virus. Unlike the Zaire strain, which caused most of Congo’s previous Ebola outbreaks, Bundibugyo currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

The ministry said 56 people have recovered so far. The current case fatality rate stands at 23%.

More than 90% of reported infections are in Ituri province in eastern Congo. Cases have also been recorded in North Kivu and South Kivu, and the outbreak has crossed into neighbouring Uganda.

Health teams are facing major obstacles in containing the virus. Nearly one million people have been displaced by conflict in Ituri, according to the United Nations humanitarian office.

Frequent movement, poor roads, remote villages, dense forests and insecurity have made it difficult to trace contacts and monitor possible infections.

The situation is also complicated by the movement of artisanal miners, who often travel between isolated mining sites in the mineral-rich region.

Public mistrust, attacks on health workers and ongoing armed violence in affected areas are further hampering response efforts.

Last month, U.S. officials said Americans exposed to Ebola overseas could be sent to a planned quarantine facility in Kenya instead of being flown back to the United States. The proposed centre, planned for Laikipia Air Base with 50 quarantine beds, sparked protests and was later blocked by the courts.

To date, there have been zero confirmed cases of Ebola within Malaysia. The country has never recorded a single case of the virus.

While the immediate risk to the public remains low, the Ministry of Health of Malaysia (MOH) has stepped up preparedness measures in response to international outbreaks.

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