The key facts

  • In DRC, 4,381 Ebola deaths and 9,066 infections recorded (Ministry of Health data, per AP).
  • By end of September, 3,900 deaths and 8,000 cases were reported; most fatalities occurred outside medical facilities.
  • WHO described the outbreak as one of the fastest-growing in history, noting its scale could surpass the West Africa epidemic (over 11,000 deaths).

Rising Death Toll

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 4,381 people have died from Ebola virus infection, and the number of infected individuals has reached 9,066. This was reported by Associated Press citing data from the country's Ministry of Health. According to official figures, by the end of September, the country had recorded 3,900 deaths and 8,000 infection cases; since then, both figures have increased significantly.

Healthcare System Situation

The rising death toll is causing concern among healthcare workers and government officials. It is noted that the majority of fatalities occurred outside medical facilities.

Epidemic Timeline

The epidemic was officially declared on May 15 in Ituri province of the DRC. Subsequently, the disease spread to other regions of the country and to neighboring Uganda. In late August, the World Health Organization announced the cessation of viral transmission in Uganda.

WHO Assessment

The WHO assessed this epidemic as one of the fastest-growing in history and stated that its scale could exceed the major Ebola epidemic observed a decade earlier in West Africa, which claimed the lives of more than 11,000 people.