The death toll from the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has risen to 600, according to updated figures released on Thursday by the World Health Organization (WHO), underscoring the rapid spread of the disease in the Central African nation.
The latest data, published by the UN health agency, show that the DRC has recorded 1,759 confirmed Ebola cases since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, with 600 confirmed fatalities.
The figures mark a sharp increase from just three days earlier, when the number of deaths surpassed 500.
Beyond the DRC, neighbouring Uganda has also reported Ebola infections linked to the outbreak. Health authorities there confirmed two deaths, while 17 of the country’s 20 confirmed patients have recovered.
According to the WHO, the outbreak in the DRC currently has a case fatality rate of 34 percent, based on data provided by the country’s health authorities.
In addition to the confirmed deaths, 285 patients have recovered from the disease, while another 304 suspected cases remain under investigation.
The outbreak has spread across four provinces in northeastern DRC, with the worst impact recorded in Ituri Province, a region that has long struggled with insecurity and the activities of armed groups.
Health officials said the current outbreak is being caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which no approved vaccines or specific treatments currently exist.
To improve patient outcomes, clinical trials of two experimental therapies began in the DRC on July 2. Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and the antiviral drug remdesivir, both individually and in combination.
Ebola is a highly infectious viral disease that spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and close interaction with infected individuals.
The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15 after several deaths were reported in the mineral-rich Ituri Province, prompting a large-scale public health response aimed at containing the virus.
