Ebola Death Toll Reaches 181 following 32 recoveries

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has climbed to 181, while confirmed infections have risen to 782, according to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Health and reported by the Associated Press.

Health authorities reported that 56 people have recovered from the disease. The current outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare variant for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently exists. This differs from the Zaire strain responsible for most of Congo's previous Ebola outbreaks.

More than 90% of infections have been recorded in Ituri Province, with additional cases confirmed in North Kivu and South Kivu. The virus has also crossed into neighboring Uganda, raising concerns about regional containment efforts.

The World Health Organization has previously warned that insecurity and population movements can significantly complicate outbreak control measures.

The Ministry of Health said contact tracing coverage has dropped to 56%, making it more difficult to identify and monitor people who may have been exposed to the virus. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, nearly one million people have been displaced by conflict in Ituri, creating major obstacles for surveillance and response operations.

Health officials continue to face challenges including attacks on medical workers, distrust among some local communities, and ongoing armed conflict in several affected areas. Thousands of artisanal miners moving between remote sites in eastern Congo have also complicated efforts to track potential chains of transmission.

The outbreak was officially declared on May 15, although authorities believe transmission may have begun weeks earlier. Public health teams are continuing surveillance, treatment, and community engagement campaigns in an effort to slow the spread of the disease and prevent further regional expansion.