Daijiworld Media Network - Kinshasa

Kinshasa, Jun 13: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to worsen, with health authorities reporting a rise in confirmed infections and fatalities as the disease spreads across several eastern regions of the country.

According to the latest official situation report, the number of confirmed Ebola cases has reached 689, including 139 deaths. Health officials also recorded 17 new confirmed infections and five additional deaths on Thursday, all of them reported from the eastern province of Ituri.

The outbreak, linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has now affected 29 health zones spread across the provinces of Ituri Province, North Kivu and South Kivu.

Authorities have also identified 168 suspected cases, of which 64 have resulted in death, raising concerns about the potential scale of the outbreak and the challenges involved in containing it.

Health officials warned that response efforts are being hampered by several operational difficulties. These include resistance from some communities to post-mortem testing procedures, limited treatment capacity at Ebola care centres, shortages of infection prevention materials in North Kivu, inadequate disease surveillance and reporting systems, and a funding shortfall estimated at 21.5 million US dollars.

Adding to concerns, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported two Ebola-related deaths in a camp for internally displaced persons in Ituri, highlighting the heightened risk facing vulnerable populations living in crowded conditions.

The current outbreak was officially declared by the DRC Ministry of Health on May 15 and represents the country's 17th recorded Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in 1976.

The Bundibugyo strain involved in the outbreak presents a particular challenge for health authorities, as there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment available for this species of the virus. Researchers and international health agencies are continuing to evaluate potential vaccine candidates and therapeutic options.

The outbreak is unfolding in a complex humanitarian environment marked by armed conflict, population displacement, insecurity, and frequent cross-border movement. Health experts warn that these conditions could complicate containment efforts and increase the risk of further transmission.

Ebola was first identified in 1976 during simultaneous outbreaks in what are now South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The disease takes its name from the Ebola River, located near the village where one of the earliest outbreaks was recorded.