More than 70 health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have contracted the Ebola virus, with 17 of them dying since the government declared the outbreak on May 15. The death toll from Ebola has now surpassed 200.
Marie Roseline Belizaire, director of the WHO emergency program, said the outbreak is “evolving very quickly” and exacting a “very heavy price” on a health system already weakened by years of conflict and staff shortages. She added that China and Uganda have sent medical teams to assist.
According to health officials, the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola circulated for months before being officially confirmed, leaving health workers without timely protection. Basic protective equipment like gloves and masks remain critically scarce.
As of Thursday, July 24, Congo reported 232 deaths and 896 confirmed cases across 31 health zones. The African Union has pledged nearly $1 billion in emergency support, while Uganda has confirmed 19 cases and 2 deaths.
The outbreak is particularly concerning in refugee camps, where overcrowding, poor hygiene, and resistance to testing could allow the virus to spread unchecked. At the Kigonze camp in the epicenter of Ituri province, home to over 15,000 people, at least 30 have died since early May. Residents and relatives have refused testing, so the cause is unconfirmed, but symptoms include headache, fever, and vomiting.
Camp residents say “there have never been so many deaths before,” and aid organizations believe the disease may have spread among more than 5 million refugees in eastern Congo. Relief workers warn that budget cuts from donors, including the United States under President Donald Trump, have slashed funding for water and sanitation programs critical to combating a disease spread through bodily fluids.
UN data shows funding for toilets and hand-washing stations in Congo fell by more than half from 2024 to 2025, to just about $38 million. A $80 million funding appeal this year has only received 21% of the target.
