Overview
- The Democratic Republic of Congo reported on Sunday that confirmed Ebola infections have climbed to about 3,200 and deaths to roughly 1,405 after an increase of about 1,000 cases in ten days.
- Nearly 90% of reported infections are concentrated in Ituri province and cases have now been confirmed across five provinces, spreading toward borders with Uganda and South Sudan.
- Roughly 80% of recent cases are detected outside known contact lists, a shortfall worsened by attacks on health facilities, insecurity and strikes by unpaid health workers that have halted tracing and isolation.
- Researchers have begun fast‑tracked trials: Oxford has dosed the first volunteers with an experimental Bundibugyo vaccine and several other vaccines and two candidate treatments are entering clinical work, but results will take months.
- Health agencies warn official tallies may undercount true infections by two to four times, which could prolong the outbreak and deepen strain on hospitals, clinics and communities across eastern DRC.