The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Thursday that the number of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has increased by nearly 40% since last week. The outbreak, linked to the Bundibugyo virus, is primarily affecting eastern Congo and neighboring Uganda. According to Africa CDC medical epidemiologist Wessam Mankoula, there have been at least 894 confirmed Ebola cases since the outbreak was declared on May 15, with the current situation being three times worse than Uganda's previous outbreak in 2000.
There are approximately 35,000 individuals identified as potential contacts of the virus, but only 4,000 have been tracked and evaluated. Mankoula noted that contact tracing efforts are hindered by the remoteness of outbreak zones, funding and personnel shortages, and displacement of communities. So far, only 74 patients have recovered from the disease.
American missionary Peter Stafford, who tested positive for Ebola while treating patients in Congo, has returned to the United States after recovering. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo virus, although monoclonal antibodies are in development. Over $900 million has been pledged to address the outbreak, but only about 10% of that funding has been activated, with Africa CDC reporting a significant shortfall in personnel to manage the crisis.