The number of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has risen to 7,022, of which 3,398 have resulted in deaths and 1,671 in recoveries, in what is considered the worst epidemic in the country’s history, news agency Lusa reported on Sunday, 13 September.
The DRC declared its 17th Ebola epidemic in mid-May, following several weeks of delay in confirming the outbreak. The epidemic began in Ituri province, in the northeast of the country, before spreading to other regions in the east and north.
This week, the disease reached a seventh province, Sud-Ubangi, which borders the Central African Republic and Congo-Brazzaville.
Despite the rising case count, Congolese authorities believe the peak of the epidemic may already have been surpassed. “The peak was reached” in the “early days of the third week of August,” government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya stated.
“All indicators point to a declining number of cases,” Muyaya added, noting that ten of the 61 affected health zones have recorded no new cases for at least 21 days.
Ituri remains the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for the majority of recorded cases.
The presence of the virus in schools, just days after the start of the academic year, has heightened concern among parents and health officials.
Preventive measures in schools have been reinforced, including mandatory handwashing and a reduction in the number of pupils per classroom. “We regularly sensitise children not to touch each other, not to greet each other, and to wash their hands frequently,” said one school official.
Organisations involved in the response warn that available funding is insufficient to ensure the monitoring and isolation of patients. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that an additional 5,000 health workers are needed.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. Several treatments and vaccines are, however, undergoing testing.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/14/mundo/africa/rdc-casos-de-ebola-ultrapassam-sete-mil-mas-autoridades-dizem-que-pico-foi-superado/
