The Democratic Republic of Congo has warned that Ebola is spreading rapidly in communities after confirming 71 new cases in 24 hours, marking one of the sharpest daily increases since the latest outbreak began.
The health ministry said in its daily situation report on Friday that the new cases raised the total number of confirmed infections to 452 since the outbreak was declared on May 15. Confirmed deaths have climbed to 82.
The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola and is the 17th recorded in Congo’s history.
Most cases remain concentrated in Ituri province in the country’s northeast, a remote region already struggling with poor health infrastructure and insecurity linked to armed groups.
Of the 71 new cases, 65 were reported in Ituri province and six in neighbouring North Kivu province.
“The number of confirmed cases recorded in the two provinces demonstrates rapid and continuous community transmission,” the health ministry report said.
Cases have now been confirmed in 17 of Ituri’s 36 health zones, as well as seven health zones in North Kivu and one in South Kivu. Infections have also been reported in neighbouring Uganda.
The warning came as World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced a $518 million, six-month response plan to contain the outbreak.
Tedros called for urgent funding and political commitment, warning that the outbreak is already the fourth-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
The plan, developed with the WHO and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, aims to help Congo and Uganda contain the disease while supporting neighbouring countries to prepare for possible cross-border cases through measures including enhanced border screening.