The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is battling a rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak that has now reached five provinces, with the national confirmed caseload climbing to 1,873 and deaths standing at 672, according to data released by the country's health authorities covering figures through Friday, 11 July. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, was formally declared on 15 May 2025.

Outbreak Spreads to New Provinces

The latest national situation report lists Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo as affected provinces. Notably, Haut-Uele and Tshopo appeared in the national situation report for the first time, signalling a geographic expansion of the crisis beyond its original epicentre.

Health investigators have determined that cases detected in both new provinces are epidemiologically linked to the outbreak's epicentre in Ituri province, traced through direct contacts and population movements — a pattern consistent with how Ebola spreads along transit corridors in conflict-affected regions.

Treatment Facilities Under Severe Strain

Of the confirmed cases, 763 patients are currently in isolation or receiving hospital treatment. The overall bed occupancy rate at Ebola treatment facilities has reached a critical 95.1 per cent, raising alarm among health responders about system capacity. A total of 306 patients have recovered, while 299 suspected cases — including 91 deaths — have also been recorded.

This is the 15th Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC, a country that has historically borne the heaviest global burden of the disease. The Bundibugyo strain, first identified in Uganda in 2007, is considered less lethal than the Zaire strain but remains dangerous and poorly understood in large-scale outbreak settings.

US Humanitarian Worker Infected, Raising Responder Safety Alarm

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) confirmed on Saturday, 12 July that a US humanitarian worker supporting the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak response in the DRC has tested positive for the virus — adding, in the agency's words, 'critical urgency' to the protection of health responders on the ground.

In a press statement, the Africa CDC said health workers, humanitarian personnel, volunteers, and operational staff are 'sustaining the response under intense pressure,' continuing to identify cases, care for patients, and protect affected communities. Relevant authorities and the response team have launched an epidemiological investigation, contact tracing, and exposure risk assessments concerning the infected worker. The exact circumstances of the exposure remain under investigation.

Healthcare Workers Bear Heavy Cost

At least 112 healthcare workers have been infected with the Bundibugyo Ebola virus in the DRC, according to the latest data from the Africa CDC — the African Union's specialised public health agency. Of those, 35 healthcare workers have died, a toll that underscores the acute danger facing frontline responders in under-resourced settings.

The infection of a foreign humanitarian worker is likely to intensify international scrutiny of personal protective equipment (PPE) availability and infection prevention protocols at treatment sites. With bed occupancy nearing full capacity and the virus now present in five provinces, the coming weeks will test whether the DRC's response infrastructure — and international support — can scale fast enough to contain further spread.