Ebola Death Toll Rises to 101 in Eastern Congo Outbreak

BUNDIBUGYO, Congo — The death toll from an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has reached 101, according to the government's latest situation report. Health officials said the Bundibugyo strain, officially declared on May 15, had spread undetected for weeks, complicating containment efforts. The disease is circulating in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces, where armed conflict has persisted for years. The report recorded 35 newly confirmed cases and 10 deaths in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total confirmed cases to 550. The outbreak spans 25 health zones: 17 in Ituri, 7 in North Kivu, and 1 in South Kivu. Attacks on morgue teams and treatment centers have been reported amid community distrust. A burial team was targeted Sunday at Nyamurongo cemetery in Bunia, leaving two people seriously injured. Armed groups in Djugu, Irumu, and Mambasa continue to limit humanitarian access, though Bunia remained relatively calm. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had previously reported 544 confirmed cases and 88 deaths.