DR Congo Ebola death toll passes 4,000, government figures show

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has recorded 8,067 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,901 deaths in its ongoing outbreak, according to the latest public health institute figures cited by Reuters on Monday. The confirmed case count has passed 8,000 for the first time. [1]

The outbreak, first detected in May and caused by Bundibugyo virus, is the largest Ebola outbreak recorded in the country, the World Health Organization says. As of 23 September, the WHO had counted 7,890 confirmed cases across 63 health zones in seven provinces. [4]

Case incidence in Ituri had been declining from a mid-August peak. In North Kivu, it rose sharply to a mid-September high before falling in the most recent reporting days, the WHO said. In the city of Butembo, all 29 beds at one Ebola treatment centre were occupied during the week of 25 September, Reuters reported. [4] [9]

Africa CDC director-general Jean Kaseya said on 25 September that about 30,000 people were on contact lists. Reuters reported that more than 80% of new confirmed cases were being found among people not already listed; Kaseya said this pointed to continuing community transmission. [6]

Update

The death toll in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola outbreak stands at 4,018, with 8,300 confirmed cases, Reuters reported on 2 October, citing government figures. The figures cover seven provinces. [10]