Key Highlights
- Suspected Ebola cases in Congo drop to 116 after investigations rule out hundreds of infections.
- WHO reports 321 confirmed cases, 48 deaths, and six recoveries in the outbreak.
- Uganda confirms six additional cases, bringing its total to 15.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the number of suspected Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has dropped sharply after health teams ruled out hundreds of previously flagged infections during investigations.
According to the latest update, Congo has recorded 321 confirmed Ebola cases and 116 suspected cases, a major shift from the much higher numbers reported just days ago. Authorities in Congo released the revised figures on Monday.
Last week, the WHO had said there were more than 900 suspected Ebola cases, including over 200 suspected deaths under investigation. Around the same time, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) indicated that over 1,100 possible cases were being examined.
The sudden drop raised questions, but WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier explained that many of the suspected infections had been reviewed and later ruled out.
Speaking in Geneva, Lindmeier said several people initially identified through surveillance systems were found to have other illnesses or symptoms unrelated to Ebola.
“They have been cleared out and have either other diseases or have just had fever and nothing else,” he said.
Healthcare officials say a suspected case can include anyone showing symptoms linked to Ebola or individuals flagged through community monitoring. A case is only counted as confirmed after laboratory testing detects the virus.
Testing Challenges Continue
The outbreak has proven difficult to track partly because of the strain involved. The current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is still no approved vaccine.
Officials have also faced testing challenges, especially in the early phase of the outbreak, when commonly used Ebola tests failed to detect this particular strain.
So far, Congo has reported 48 deaths, while six people have recovered, according to WHO figures.
In neighboring Uganda, health officials also reported an increase in infections. While the WHO initially confirmed nine cases and one death, Uganda’s health ministry later announced six new cases, bringing the country’s total to 15 confirmed infections. Authorities said the newly infected individuals were identified among close contacts of existing patients.
The Bundibugyo outbreak, declared by Africa CDC on May 15, marks Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak, prompting the WHO to classify it as a public health emergency of international concern.