Congo reports 282 Ebola cases, 264 in Ituri province
Congo confirmed 282 Ebola cases (264 in Ituri province), with a rare strain having no approved vaccine, worsening due to violence and terrain. Only 45% of contacts traced highlights urgent need for faster containment to prevent further spread.
Congo has now confirmed 282 Ebola cases in its latest outbreak, health officials said late Sunday, as survivors described their relief at beating the deadly disease. The surge in confirmed cases—up from earlier counts—highlights the worsening crisis in Ituri province, where 264 of the cases are concentrated. The virus, a rare strain called Bundibugyo Ebola, has no approved vaccine or treatment, making containment even tougher. With over 1,000 suspected cases reported, health workers are racing to trace contacts, isolate patients, and prevent further spread amid ongoing violence and remote terrain.
The biggest hurdles remain early detection and rapid isolation of new cases, along with safe burials and stricter infection control in clinics. Officials say contact tracing has only reached 45% of potential exposures, leaving 220 suspected cases still under investigation. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that without faster action, the outbreak could spiral further out of control. On Sunday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited a new treatment center in Bunia, the provincial capital, to assess the response firsthand.
Five health workers have survived the virus so far, a small but vital group given their high exposure risk. Among them was nurse Baraka Bulambulu, who tested positive before two follow-up tests cleared him. “The first one came back positive, but the second and third were negative,” he said with relief. “Coming out of this illness alive is indescribable joy.” Another nurse, Ezo Étienne, described collapsing from dizziness and vomiting while on duty—classic signs of the virus—before seeking help. Their recoveries, while rare, offer hope in a crisis where most treatments focus on easing symptoms rather than curing the disease.
Neighboring Uganda has already reported nine cases and shut its border with Congo to limit further spread. Past outbreaks in the region have been difficult to control due to armed conflict, dense jungles, and distrust in healthcare systems. With Bundibugyo Ebola striking far less often than other strains, health systems are less prepared, raising fears the outbreak could drag on. Tedros told survivors Sunday, “Your courage gives hope and your living story shows this outbreak can be stopped.” But time is running out.
