The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has passed 11,000 confirmed cases, with 5,387 deaths reported in the country’s latest situation report. The figures, dated Nov. 9, show the outbreak continuing across eight provinces even as authorities reported no newly affected health zone that day.

What the latest Ebola figures show

The DRC Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health reported 11,042 confirmed cases and 5,387 confirmed deaths in Situation Report 179, covering Nov. 9. The report recorded 52 newly confirmed cases and 33 deaths for that day. Ituri province accounted for 30 of the new cases, North Kivu for 17 and Haut-Uélé for five.

The report said 67 health zones in eight provinces had recorded cases since the outbreak began. Ituri remained the largest hotspot, while no new health zone was affected on Nov. 9. That single day without a newly affected zone does not mean the outbreak has ended; the report also recorded 52 new cases and 33 deaths.

How the count changed from the previous WHO snapshot

The World Health Organization’s Nov. 6 bulletin used data through Nov. 3 and listed 10,668 confirmed cases and 5,198 deaths in the DRC. Comparing that dated snapshot with the ministry’s Nov. 9 report shows 374 additional confirmed cases and 189 additional deaths over six days. The snapshots use different cutoff dates, so they should not be read as conflicting same-day totals.

The outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus and was declared in May. The Associated Press has reported that armed conflict, limited health-system capacity, difficult road access and mistrust have made the response harder in affected areas. Those conditions can complicate access to care and the work of response teams.

Vaccine research remains under way

WHO says a Phase 2/3 trial of vaccine candidates for Bundibugyo virus began in October. The candidates are being evaluated; the trial does not mean a vaccine is already approved or available for general use.

Sources

Associated Press: Ebola tops 11,000 cases in Congo · DRC Ministry of Health and INSP: Situation Report 179, Nov. 9 · World Health Organization: Bundibugyo Ebola update, Nov. 6.