- Health
- Tuesday, June 9, 2026 – 08:19
The Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus disease is continuing its spread across the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo. A recent epidemiological report from the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) confirms a cumulative total of 550 confirmed cases across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, resulting in 101 fatalities.
Data updated as of June 6th indicates the registration of 27 new confirmed cases within a single 24-hour period, a clear sign of ongoing transmission throughout the affected areas. According to the same report, 283 individuals are currently receiving care in hospitals or isolation units.
Health officials note that the overall case fatality rate stands at an estimated 17.7%, based on the 91 deaths recorded among the confirmed cases. They also specify that some figures are still undergoing harmonization.
Ituri remains the most affected province
A geographical breakdown of the outbreak underscores that Ituri province is the primary hotspot of this health crisis. Of the 25 health zones currently impacted, 17 are located within Ituri, representing nearly half of the province’s 36 total health zones.
The affected zones include Aru, Aungba, Bambu, Bunia, Damas, Gety, Kilo, Komanda, Lita, Logo, Mambasa, Mangala, Mongbwalu, Nizi, Nyankunde, Rimba, and Rwampara.
This wide geographic distribution highlights the virus’s persistent circulation across multiple territories in the province, despite the surveillance and awareness efforts mounted by response teams.
Active hotspots in North and South Kivu
In addition to Ituri, several health zones in North Kivu and South Kivu continue to report new infections. The Katwa health zone has emerged as the main active cluster with 11 confirmed cases and 8 deaths. It is followed by Beni with 5 confirmed cases and 3 deaths; Butembo with 4 cases and 2 deaths; Miti-Murhesa with 3 cases and 1 death; Oïcha with 2 cases and 2 deaths; Kalunguta with 1 case and 1 death; Kyondo with 1 case and no fatalities; and Goma, which has reported a single confirmed case with no death.
Despite the outbreak’s progression, health teams are also reporting some successes. Three confirmed patients were recently declared cured. Two of them were discharged from treatment facilities in Bunia, while another was permitted to return home in the Katwa health zone.
The INSP confirms that intervention efforts are ongoing in all affected zones, with a strong emphasis on infection prevention in healthcare settings, contact tracing, and community outreach.
Health authorities stress that fostering community trust, ensuring the early detection of cases, and promoting adherence to preventive measures are the most critical factors for breaking the chains of virus transmission in the coming weeks.
