The Democratic Republic of Congo said on Tuesday that confirmed Ebola cases had risen to nearly 600, raising awareness among the local population about the importance of safety measures.
The outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola was announced on May 15, although officials have since said it went undetected for weeks, leaving health officials behind the curve and struggling to bring it under control.
One of the world’s largest ever Ebola outbreaks is taking place in three provinces that have long been characterized by armed conflict: Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.
In its latest statement published on X, Congo’s government said the number of confirmed Ebola cases had risen to 598, including 115 deaths.
It also said that 22 patients had recovered from the disease and that new cases did not spread to more health zones.
The cases have been registered in 17 of Ituri’s health zones as well as in seven health zones in North Kivu and one health zone in South Kivu.
“If you have fever, vomiting, diarrhea or severe weakness, you should immediately go to the nearest health center,” the statement said, urging the public to follow the instructions of health workers and not attack them.
Mistrust and opposition have hampered the response, with reports of attacks on funeral teams and treatment centers.
Doctors are also struggling to secure basic equipment to stay safe and prevent further spread of the disease, according to more than a dozen doctors, humanitarian workers and public health officials.
The International Rescue Committee aid group called on Tuesday for the necessary funding to contain the outbreak in Ituri province before it spreads further.
