Ebola epidemic does not subside: over 3,200 dead and thousands ill

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ebola outbreak continues. The number of confirmed cases has exceeded 6,600, with over 3,200 deaths. The healthcare system is overwhelmed: 1,400 beds have been deployed across 59 centers, but another 1,600 are needed. There is an acute shortage of staff—approximately 5,000 healthcare workers are lacking. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccines exist. The WHO is calling for emergency support.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a large-scale Ebola outbreak continues with no signs of slowing down. According to the World Health Organization, the number of confirmed infections has exceeded 6,600, and the death toll has surpassed 3,200. The epidemic has spread across six provinces of the DRC. The country's healthcare system is under critical strain. About 1,400 beds have been set up in 59 operating medical centers, but at least 1,600 more are needed to adequately accommodate patients. The situation is most severe in Ituri province, where occupancy rates at some facilities reach 90–100%. In addition to infrastructure shortages, there is a catastrophic lack of personnel: about 9,000 healthcare workers are needed to handle the current patient flow, which is roughly 5,000 more than available resources. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, for which there are no approved vaccines or ready treatments. Effective control of the fever's spread is hampered by chronic underfunding, limited international missions, and an unstable security situation. The WHO is calling on the global community to urgently scale up support.