Congo reported suspected Ebola cases in Tshopo and Haut-Uele—provinces previously untouched by the outbreak—as the national death toll rose to 600.
Two suspected cases were identified in Kisangani, Tshopo; one was linked to Ituri's Nia-Nia health zone, while the other had no apparent connection to known outbreaks.
Confirmed infections nationwide have reached 1,759, and the Africa CDC said the outbreak is now the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on the continent.
The outbreak, declared May 15 after weeks of undetected transmission, is driven by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccine or treatment.
Containment efforts are being strained by a funding gap, attacks on health centers and conflict in eastern Congo, even as clinical treatment trials began last week.
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Ebola Bundibugyo Outbreak Escalates: 1,460 Cases, Kisangani at Risk, and No Vaccine in Sight
Overview
The Ebola outbreak has reached a critical point with suspected cases emerging in Kisangani, a major city in Tshopo province. If confirmed, Tshopo would become the fourth province affected, showing how the virus continues to spread despite ongoing containment efforts. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak is still expanding, mainly due to continued transmission and the movement of infected people between regions. These challenges are made worse by funding shortages, attacks on healthcare facilities, and ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, making it difficult for health authorities to trace contacts and control the outbreak effectively.