The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has exceeded 1,000, with health authorities reporting 1,003 infections and 254 deaths since the outbreak was declared on May 15.
The outbreak, centred in the northeastern Ituri province, is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Officials said 100 people have recovered, while at least 365 remain in hospital or isolation.
Health authorities warned that the true scale of the outbreak may be larger, with only about 55 percent of potential contacts traced so far. Violence and mass displacement have further complicated response efforts, as attacks by armed groups have cut off affected communities and forced thousands into overcrowded camps.
Officials in the Kigonze displacement camp near Bunia have reported several unexplained deaths and warned that any disease outbreak among displaced people could have devastating consequences given the poor living conditions.
