The Congo Ministry of Health reported on Friday that the ongoing Ebola outbreak has expanded to two additional health zones—Biena and Manguredjipa—in North Kivu province. The addition raises the count of affected zones to 60, marking the fastest expansion of an Ebola epidemic on record.
Spread expands to new zones
According to government figures, the outbreak now includes 5,794 confirmed cases and 2,786 deaths, yielding an overall case‑fatality rate of 48%. In the newly affected zones, the fatality rate is notably higher, with North Kivu province reporting a rate close to 69%, one of the highest in the country. Health officials believe the virus began circulating in February, although the outbreak was only declared in mid‑May. Since then, it has moved from an initial three health zones to nearly 60, with most infections and deaths occurring outside the network of monitored contacts and within communities.
Response measures and challenges
Doctors Without Borders announced the opening of a new treatment centre in Beni, North Kivu, to accelerate patient care, strengthen contact tracing, and support local authorities in containment efforts. The organization described the centre as a critical addition in one of the hardest‑hit areas.
On Thursday, the Congolese government began vaccinating health workers and other frontline personnel with the Ervebo vaccine, which proved effective in previous Ebola outbreaks caused by the more common Zaire strain. Clinical trials are also under way to develop a licensed vaccine for the rare Bundibugyo virus responsible for the current epidemic, which presently has no approved vaccines or treatments.
Public health measures such as limiting gatherings, enforcing social distancing, and closing airports have been implemented across the six provinces most affected, particularly Ituri, where rebel violence has compounded the crisis. The government has also installed health and sanitary equipment at selected sites, though advocacy groups argue that additional steps are needed to build community trust.
Regional risk and international outlook
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the outbreak remains out of control and could surpass the 2014‑2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic, which claimed more than 11,000 lives across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. WHO expert Marie Roseline Belizaire identified the Central African Republic as the country at highest risk of spillover, followed closely by South Sudan, as the virus pushes toward border regions.
Neighboring Uganda declared itself free of Ebola last month, yet WHO cautioned that the risk of cross‑border transmission persists. The combination of insecurity, displacement, a health‑workers’ strike and intense population movements continues to fuel the spread, creating a complex environment for containment teams.
As the outbreak accelerates, international partners and local authorities are racing to scale up treatment capacity, expand vaccination coverage, and secure community cooperation in an effort to halt what could become the deadliest Ebola event in recent history.
Mitchell Landsberg is the senior reporter for News Raise and focuses on Technology. Mitchell regularly writes about social media platforms and how influencers, industry and general people use them to communicate and make money.
