Ebola Death Toll Surpasses 900 as Outbreak Worsens in DRC

The Ebola outbreak in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, is worsening, with the death toll now exceeding 900. In recent weeks, as many as 23 new cases were reported in a single day, marking the highest daily count since the outbreak began in August 2018.

Response efforts are hampered by security challenges and community mistrust of health teams. Many deaths occur within communities, as patients avoid treatment centers, accelerating the spread of the virus.

Nicole Fassina, Ebola Coordinator for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), warned: “Under-resourced operations and security issues pose a real risk of international spread.”

Safe and dignified burials are critical but costly, requiring specialized disposable equipment. To date, over 5,000 burials have been carried out in North Kivu and Ituri, with an 80% success rate.

The IFRC has launched an emergency appeal to fund prevention and preparedness measures for 15.5 million people, but has received less than half of the requested funding. Efforts also extend to neighboring countries—Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda—to train volunteers, procure equipment, and implement containment measures.