DR Congo's Ministry of Health confirmed on June 14 that 72 new infections had been recorded in the past 24 hours, the highest daily increase since the outbreak began, accompanied by 29 deaths. The total number of cases now stands at 782, including 178 deaths.
This outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccine or treatment exists. Unlike the Zaire strain, responsible for 16 previous Ebola outbreaks in Congo, Bundibugyo has a 22.8% fatality rate, with 40 patients having recovered.
“We are committed to continuing to support affected countries until transmission is ended. We call on partners and donors to urgently mobilise resources to strengthen the response and save patients' lives,” said Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ituri Province in the east remains the epicentre, accounting for nearly 95% of cases. The virus has spread to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and even crossed the border into Uganda.
Contact tracing has dropped sharply to just 56.5% of the 95% target, according to health ministry officials. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned that “no one knows the true scale” of the outbreak due to dangerous gaps in surveillance and testing.
The humanitarian crisis in Ituri is worsening the health situation. Nearly one million people have been displaced by armed conflict among multiple factions, including the M23 rebel group controlling Goma, the capital of North Kivu. The region has experienced decades of instability, with UN reports documenting massacres of over 100 civilians in gold-rich villages in Ituri as various groups compete for control of mineral resources.
Thousands of artisanal miners frequently move between illegal mining sites in the mineral-rich zone, creating infection hotspots beyond medical surveillance. The outbreak is believed to have originated in the Mongbwalu health zone, a mining hub in Ituri Province.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is expanding testing and contact tracing activities. However, MSF reports a critical funding shortfall of $21.5 million, hindering the response.
