Kinshasa:Early detection and contact tracing remain inadequate, contributing to the rise in new Ebola infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Officials reported that the number of confirmed cases has now exceeded 10,000, with nearly 5,000 deaths.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, confirmed cases have reached 10,060, including 4,887 deaths since the outbreak was declared in May. The fatality rate stands at 48.6%, marking this outbreak as the world's second-largest recorded.

Authorities noted that only about 12% of confirmed cases in Congo have been identified among previously known contacts, indicating that some transmission chains remain undetected. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, has affected eight provinces Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Bas-Uele, Tshopo, South-Ubangi, and North Ubangi.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Africa region office emphasized the need for sustained efforts to end the outbreak. It stressed the importance of scaling up key control measures, improving access to affected areas, and enhancing community outreach to build trust and encourage engagement with the response.

The WHO's recent report highlighted that of the 66 health zones affected, 50, or 75.8%, reported at least one new confirmed case in the past 21 days. Meanwhile, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is set to hold a high-level virtual meeting with African Ministers of Health to assess the situation, enhance coordination, and boost support and preparedness across the continent.

Additionally, Uganda, France, Kenya, and Nigeria have reported cases linked to the outbreak in Congo since May.