GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – The World Health Organization reports that Ebola transmission is decreasing in certain severely affected areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The most notable improvement is seen in parts of Ituri province, the primary hub of the outbreak. Nevertheless, the epidemic continues to spread in other regions. Official data up to Sept. 13 shows 7,258 confirmed cases and 3,510 deaths across seven provinces, with a case fatality ratio of 48.4% nationwide.
Since May, South Kivu has not reported new cases, and more patients are recovering across the country. By Sept. 13, official figures indicated 1,726 recoveries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the recent trends show promising signs after months of rapid spread. He also emphasized that the epidemic is still expanding and causing fatalities. Currently, the outbreak affects 62 health zones, illustrating significant variations between the affected provinces.
Despite recent declines, Ituri remains the primary center of the outbreak. During the latest weekly period, health officials recorded around 300 new cases and 160 deaths there. These cases account for nearly half of the national total for that time frame. Conversely, North Kivu is experiencing an upward trend. Weekly cases there nearly doubled over two weeks, increasing from about 100 to over 200 as transmission expands.
North Kivu cases increase as Ituri sees transmission decrease
The ongoing epidemic involves Bundibugyo virus disease, a strain of Ebola that has spread widely since May. Ituri reports most cases overall, while North Kivu ranks as the second most affected province. Haut-Uélé continues to see transmission as well. Recently, the outbreak spread to Sud-Ubangi, raising the number of affected provinces to seven. This expansion follows months of new cases appearing in northeastern and central parts of the country.
Health teams are conducting clinical research as part of their response. They are testing treatments and post-exposure prophylaxis, with increased community involvement. The efforts also include surveillance, laboratory tests, contact tracing, isolation, and clinical care. Officials are closely monitoring infection trends since transmission differs greatly between provinces and zones. Sometimes, case numbers decline in one region but grow rapidly in another.
Multiple zones remain under active response
National health agencies, WHO, Africa CDC, and numerous partners continue working with frontline medical teams. Security issues and population displacement make access difficult in some areas. These challenges hinder surveillance, contact tracing, and timely treatment. Mining communities, informal settlements, and displacement sites pose additional operational hurdles. Some locations have limited health services, sanitation, and infrastructure. Response teams operate across both urban and remote locations.
Recent data shows progress in several areas, but the overall transmission remains high. South Kivu has seen no new cases for months. Ituri reports lower transmission than before. Meanwhile, North Kivu faces a sharp rise in weekly infections. Different patterns across the country mean health officials track each affected area separately. More than 3,500 confirmed deaths highlight the ongoing severity of the outbreak.