Ebola outbreak in DR Congo kills over 1,900, most before reaching treatment centres

More than 1,900 people have died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak, with the majority of fatalities occurring outside formal treatment centres. Health officials estimate that 60 to 70 percent of the deaths are happening in remote communities where access to medical care is limited, highlighting a critical gap in the response to the epidemic.

The World Health Organization has placed community-based interventions at the centre of its strategy, deploying mobile treatment units, expanding contact‑tracing teams, and accelerating vaccination campaigns in hard‑to‑reach areas. By strengthening outreach and improving rapid access to care, the WHO aims to curb the high proportion of community deaths and bring the outbreak under control.