Overview
- The outbreak began in mid‑May in Ituri province and has expanded to six provinces, reaching 6,186 confirmed cases with 3,007 confirmed deaths and about 830 people currently in treatment.
- The official case‑fatality ratio is about 48.6 percent and children, especially those under four, are suffering disproportionately higher mortality.
- No vaccine or treatment is licensed for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, so authorities have launched a Phase‑III study using the Ervebo vaccine and began clinical testing of two antiviral approaches in early July.
- Africa CDC and laboratory assessments have found no confirmed mutation of the Bundibugyo virus, but response efforts are hampered by armed conflict, unsafe funerals and limited hospital capacity.
- WHO has urged faster funding for the DRC’s $1.3 billion response plan and warned that uncontrolled spread could threaten neighboring states with weak health systems such as South Sudan and the Central African Republic.