Ebola epidemic spreads rapidly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The World Health Organization reports that the current Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading at an unprecedented rate. Official government data as of mid-July indicates 1,759 to 1,792 confirmed cases and 600 to 625 deaths. WHO official Chikwe Ihekweazu noted that 80 percent of new cases in the Ituri province are unconnected to known contact lists, suggesting the true scale of the outbreak could be two to four times higher than official figures. In contrast, North Kivu province shows some progress, with most new cases coming from known contact lists. Health officials are struggling with resource constraints, as treatment centers are operating at 90 percent capacity. The epidemic, which officially began in mid-May, remains centered in the Ituri region near the borders with Uganda and South Sudan. Additionally, Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases and two deaths.