Ebola caused over 4,000 victims and thousands more confirmed cases

A severe Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is facing serious difficulties in management, because of armed conflicts, violence and a lack of health resources.

The outbreak, officially confirmed in mid-May, has affected unstable regions in the north and east of the country. According to the latest official data, 8,300 cases and 4,018 deaths have been registered, while 2,162 people have recovered. The mortality rate so far is estimated at 48.4%.

Six cases and four deaths have also been reported in the province of North Kivu. According to the anti-government group M23, these cases were registered in areas under its control.

The outbreak began in Ituri province and then spread to seven other provinces in the north and east of the country.

Efforts to contain the virus have been hampered by the armed conflict, while the authorities also face pronounced distrust toward health institutions and the authorities, particularly in some of the affected areas.

Health organizations are thus facing major challenges to guarantee treatment for those affected, contact tracing and prevention of further spread of the virus.