Symbolic imageEbola deaths in DR Congo pass 1,600 as WHO calls response overstretched
The WHO says the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 1,600 people. It told a briefing on Tuesday that the outbreak is still expanding beyond the capacity of the response.
What happened
- WHO counted 3,748 confirmed cases and 1,657 deaths as of 1 August, spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said.
- The country's 17th Ebola outbreak began in eastern DR Congo on 15 May.
- WHO described it on 1 August as the largest Ebola outbreak ever reported in DR Congo.
- WHO asked for more funding and resources at its Geneva briefing on Tuesday, 4 August.
- Named needs: treatment capacity, field investigation teams, safe burial teams, community outreach.
What could happen next
- Open how much additional funding donors will provide, and how quickly treatment capacity can be expanded.
- Unclear whether case numbers have peaked; WHO says spread currently outpaces the response.
- The geographic reach beyond the eastern provinces is not detailed in the available reporting.