The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has killed at least 600 people among 1,759 confirmed cases, with the World Health Organization warning that the epidemic remains in its expansion phase.
The crisis is driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain, which lacks proven treatments or vaccines. Movement of infected workers from the mining town of Mongbwalu is spreading the virus to new regions, while treatment centres are nearly full with bed occupancy reaching 94 percent. The outbreak, declared on May 15, is the country's 17th and has impacted 37 health zones across three provinces.
The response faces setbacks as healthcare workers in Ituri province went on strike over unpaid wages, some unpaid since the outbreak began. Clinical trials for potential Bundibugyo treatments have now commenced. Officials confirmed 1,624 cases and 521 deaths just days earlier, underscoring the accelerating toll.