GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – World Health Organization reports that Ebola transmission is decreasing in several of the most affected regions within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This positive development is particularly evident in parts of Ituri province, which remains the epicenter of the outbreak. Nevertheless, the epidemic persists in expanding into other areas. Data up to Sept. 13 indicates there have been 7,258 confirmed cases and 3,510 fatalities across seven provinces, with the overall case fatality rate at 48.4%.
Since May, South Kivu has not reported any new cases, and more patients are recovering across the country. Official statistics as of Sept. 13 show 1,726 recoveries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described recent trends as promising signs after months of rapid virus transmission. He emphasized, however, that the epidemic continues to cause deaths and expand. Currently, the outbreak affects 62 health zones, reflecting significant disparities between the affected provinces.
Despite a recent decline in transmission, Ituri remains the primary focus of the outbreak, with approximately 300 new cases and 160 deaths recorded there in the latest weekly period, according to health officials. These figures account for nearly half of the national total for that period. In contrast, North Kivu is experiencing an opposite trend, with weekly infections nearly doubling over a two-week span—from around 100 cases to over 200—as health teams trace expanding transmission chains.
Increase in North Kivu Cases Contrasts with Decline in Ituri
The ongoing epidemic involves the Bundibugyo virus disease, a form of Ebola that has spread over a broad geographic region since May. Ituri remains the most heavily affected province in terms of total cases, while North Kivu now ranks as the second most impacted. Haut-Uélé also continues to report transmission. Recently, the outbreak has spread to Sud-Ubangi, bringing the total number of affected provinces to seven. This expansion follows months during which health authorities documented new cases in northeastern and central regions of the country.
Responding to the outbreak involves extensive clinical research efforts alongside community-based interventions. The number of trials involving treatments and post-exposure prophylaxis has increased as community participation improves. The comprehensive response includes surveillance, laboratory testing, contact tracing, isolation, and clinical care. Because transmission patterns differ significantly between provinces and health zones, health officials continuously monitor these variations. This patchwork of data means that a decline in cases in one area may be offset by rapid growth in another.
Efforts Persist in Multiple Affected Areas
The response effort involves national health authorities, WHO, Africa CDC, and numerous partner organizations working closely with frontline healthcare teams. Ongoing insecurity and population displacement complicate access to certain regions, hindering surveillance, contact tracing, and timely medical assistance. Vulnerable communities in mining zones, informal settlements, and displacement sites face operational challenges, often with limited healthcare, sanitation, and infrastructure. Despite these obstacles, response teams continue their operations across urban centers and remote communities alike.
Recent data reflect tangible progress in some locations, such as South Kivu, which has seen no new cases for months, and Ituri, where transmission levels are lower than previously. Meanwhile, North Kivu continues to report a steep rise in weekly infections. Authorities track the outbreak separately across different areas because the epidemic exhibits diverse patterns countrywide. With more than 3,500 confirmed deaths, the outbreak’s scale remains significant, underscoring the ongoing challenge faced by health officials in controlling the spread of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.