Overview
- The United Nations said Friday that the outbreak is growing exponentially, with more than 2,500 deaths and roughly half of those occurring in the past 20 days.
- Health authorities and Africa CDC estimate only about 30 to 40 percent of cases are being detected, meaning the true number of infections could be up to three times higher than confirmed counts.
- An initial shipment of 16,250 Ervebo vaccine doses arrived in Kinshasa on Aug. 22 as part of a 70,000‑dose allocation from WHO, with 20,000 doses reserved for a Phase 3 trial to assess protection against Bundibugyo.
- Response work is hampered by repeated attacks on health teams, unpaid local staff and banking disruptions that have delayed wages, which has reduced surveillance, contact tracing and safe-burial operations.
- Emergency funding is critically low and UN coordinators warn funds could run out within weeks, raising the risk the epidemic will spread into population centres and neighbouring countries and deepening humanitarian needs for families and children.