The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is accelerating rapidly, with confirmed cases rising to more than 700 since the outbreak was declared on May 15, the Health Ministry said Sunday.
The ministry said 149 people have died, pushing the reported fatality rate to 21%, up from 20% last week. At least 324 patients remain in isolation or hospital care, while 32 people have recovered.
The outbreak has affected 29 health zones across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Sixteen confirmed cases have been reported among health and care workers.
Authorities said the sharp rise in confirmed infections was partly linked to expanded testing and diagnostic capacity, which allowed health officials to process a backlog of previously collected samples.
A joint response team involving central government officials, provincial authorities, health partners and local communities is working to strengthen public health measures and break chains of transmission.
“The response continues with strengthened contact tracing, community awareness-raising and patient care,” the ministry said in its latest update.
The World Health Organization warned Saturday that the reported death toll may still underestimate the outbreak’s true impact, as many deaths that occurred before the official declaration remain under investigation.
Health officials say the priority remains tracing contacts, isolating suspected cases, improving patient care and expanding community outreach in affected areas.