DR Congo Ebola Cases Pass 8,000 as International Funding Increases

Confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo have risen beyond 8,000, according to government data released on Monday, as international partners provide additional financial support for the response.

The country’s public health institute reported that 3,901 people had died in the outbreak. The figures concern confirmed cases, while the available information does not specify the number of suspected or probable infections.

Funding announced

The European Union has committed a €7.5 million aid package for the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The European Commission said the funding was intended “to support the response to the Ebola crisis” and to “increase preparedness, response and health surveillance capacity in the long-term.”

The United States has separately announced an additional $267 million to support efforts against the ongoing epidemic. The specific United States agency responsible for the announcement was not identified in the available information.

These commitments were announced by international partners on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly the previous week. The European Union also announced a broader €710 million pledge aimed at supporting displaced people across Africa and providing relief for global crises.

Vaccine and treatment challenges

The epidemic is being caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola and has been described as the largest and deadliest outbreak in the history of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

There are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo species. In response, the Democratic Republic of Congo, with backing from the World Health Organization and Doctors Without Borders, launched a test vaccination programme using vaccines developed for a different Ebola strain.

The World Health Organization said earlier in the month that trials for three potential vaccines against the Bundibugyo strain should begin by October or November.

The latest case and death figures add urgency to efforts to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and treatment capacity. The available information does not provide the precise locations of cases within the Democratic Republic of Congo or the date on which the epidemic began.