Ebola outbreak: Death toll in DRC crosses 2,000 as cases surge past 4,300

More than 2000 people have died of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC since the outbreak was declared fewer than three months ago as the virus continues to spread at an alarming rate news agency ANI reportedAl Jazeera citing official government data reported that at least 1000 of the deaths have occurred in the past three weeksA total of 4381 Ebola cases across five provinces of the DRC have been confirmed as of Tuesday including 2011 deathsThe outbreak is the fastestgrowing on record in the Central African country and is second in size only to the West African Ebola outbreak from 2014 to 2016 during which 11310 people died Al Jazeera reportedThe rapid acceleration of the epidemic has prompted urgent appeals from international officialsJulien Harneis designated Senior Ebola Coordinator by the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator highlighted the rising human toll on XToday the Ebola epidemic surpassed 2000 deaths half of these in the last 20 days 2000 children mothers fathers All of us in the response aid workers organisations governments donors with the community must do more and do it today to save lives and stop EbolaToday the Ebola epidemic surpassed 2000 deaths half of these in the last 20 days 2000 children mothers fathersAll of us in the response aid workers organisations governments donors with the community must do more and do it today to save lives and stop Ebola pictwittercomqlJSYp01LEmdash Julien Harneis julienmh August 11 2026WHO expands treatment capacityTo reinforce frontline infrastructure the World Health Organization WHO has announced that an expansion of a WHObuilt treatment centre is underway in Lita doubling its original 40bed capacity to 80 bedsThe effort is supported by the Ministry of Health alongside humanitarian partners including United Nations Childrens Fund UNICEF Alliance for International Medical Action ALIMA the World Food Programme WFP and United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo MONUSCOAdditionally WHO in a post on X stated that it has donated 20 beds to the local maternity ward to maintain essential healthcare services It is also training 100 hygienists 100 surveillance and Infection Prevention and Control IPC officers four decontamination teams and two safe and dignified burial teamsAgency officials reiterated their commitment to mobilising all available resources to contain the outbreakWHO Africa CDC seek stronger community responseLast week the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Africa CDC and WHO jointly called for an immediate expansion of the communityled response in the DRC highlighting critical operational gaps in contact followup early detection and medical infrastructureAccording to WHO the call followed a joint highlevel mission to Uganda and the DRC on August 4 and 5 led by WHO DirectorGeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Africa CDC DirectorGeneral Jean Kaseya and WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed JanabiDelegations met with national authorities response coordinators health workers and community leaders in Kampala Bunia and Kinshasa to address severe operational strainsAfrica CDC and WHO emphasised that immediate action is needed to expand treatment and burial capacity ensure timely pay and protection for frontline health workers improve access to insecure areas and deliver committed financing directly to frontline operations without delayIndia announces USD 10 millionIn June Union Health Minister JP Nadda said that USD 10 million had been announced by India for preparedness response and recovery amid the ongoing Ebola outbreak at a Virtual Summit organised by the African UnionThe virtual summit was chaired by the African Union Chairperson and President of Burundi Evariste NdayishimiyeWhat is Ebola diseaseEbola disease is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by infection with the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola virus It is a serious disease with a high mortality rateAt present no vaccines or specific treatments have been approved to prevent or treat Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strainWith ANI inputs