On July 5th, local time, the Department of News and Media of the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported in its daily update that during the past day, there were 19 new Ebola deaths in the country, bringing the total number of deaths to 492.
Currently, the total number of confirmed Ebola cases in Congo (RDC) has reached 1,528, with 26 new cases reported in the past day.
Since May 15th, a deadly Ebola outbreak has occurred in Congo (DR Congo), and neighboring Uganda has also reported confirmed cases and deaths of Ebola patients. It is reported that this outbreak was caused by the Bundibugyo virus, one of the six known types of Ebola virus. Currently, there are no approved treatments or vaccines for this virus.
On June 26, 2026, local time, in Monbouwalu, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, families of Ebola victims claimed their remains at the hospital. IC Photo
The Associated Press reported on the same day that at the beginning of this month, researchers launched a highly anticipated study to test two potential Ebola treatments in an effort to contain the still-spreading outbreak. The report described how residents in the hardest-hit areas of Ebola in Congo are placing their hopes on these experimental treatments.
Public information shows that Ebola is a serious and often fatal human disease. There are three different viruses known to cause large-scale Ebola outbreaks: Ebola virus, Sudan virus, and Bd virus.
The average case fatality rate for Ebola disease is approximately 50%. In previous outbreaks, the case fatality rate varied from 25% to 90%. The vaccines and treatments currently approved are only applicable to one type of virus (i.e., the Ebola virus). Vaccines and treatments targeting other viruses are currently being developed.
The incubation period for the disease, or the time from infection to the appearance of symptoms, is between 2 and 21 days. Symptoms of Ebola disease may appear suddenly, including fever, fatigue, discomfort, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. Subsequently, symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rashes, and damage to kidney and liver functions may occur. Effects on the central nervous system can lead to confusion, irritability, and aggression.
