Ebola passed 9,700 confirmed cases

As of 21 October, the Democratic Republic of the Congo had reported 9,704 confirmed cases of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, including 4,687 deaths, in data up to 20 October¹. Since the previous update there were 67 new confirmed cases and 41 deaths, in Ituri, North Kivu and Tshopo¹. 1,041 patients are in isolation, and 2,595 people who tested positive have recovered¹.

Where. Ituri remains the centre, with 7,040 cases and 3,271 deaths; North Kivu has 2,146 cases¹. In all, 66 of 178 health zones in eight provinces are affected¹. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control says the outbreak is probably larger than reported, because of gaps in data and contact follow-up¹.

Beyond Congo. Kenya has nine confirmed cases, including one death, all linked to a first case imported from Congo; 134 of 135 contacts are in quarantine¹. Nigeria reported its first case on 20 October, a woman who flew in from Uganda; 44 close contacts are being monitored¹. Uganda’s own outbreak was declared over in August¹.

The risk for Europe. ECDC rates the likelihood of infection as low for people living in or travelling to affected areas, and very low for people living in the EU/EEA¹. It also says screening returning travellers “would not be effective” in keeping the virus out, based on the 2013–2016 West African outbreak. Priority should go to giving travellers clear information on symptoms and what to do if they fall ill after arrival¹.

What is missing. There is still no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus¹. WHO guidance proposes using the licensed Ervebo vaccine, made for a different Ebola species, mainly within research protocols; Congo began vaccinating frontline workers with it in August¹.

The constructive reading. The numbers are grim, and they are numbers: counted, published, broken down by health zone. Kenya found 134 of 135 contacts. That is what an outbreak response looks like when it works, one list at a time.