The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed more than 200 lives, with 202 deaths recorded from 875 confirmed infections, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The figures point to a mortality rate of about 23 percent, underscoring the severity of the outbreak and the strain on an already fragile health system.

Health officials say the numbers may not tell the full story. Many suspected cases remain untested in remote or insecure areas, where armed groups operate and roads are poor or nonexistent. These conditions are undermining one of the most critical tools in halting Ebola transmission: contact tracing.

“What is worrisome for us is the contact tracing status,” said Dr Wessam Mankoula of the Africa CDC. “Because of security challenges and accessibility of some of the areas for our responders from Africa CDC, WHO and different partners, we still see this contact tracing is low.”

The current epidemic is the 17th recorded in the vast central African nation, but it is distinguished by its geography and the strain of the virus. The Bundibugyo strain circulating in this outbreak has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, leaving health workers to rely on supportive care, rapid isolation and rigorous infection prevention measures.

The virus is concentrated in three northeastern provinces, Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu, regions long scarred by conflict, displacement and mistrust of authorities. Health teams must negotiate access with local leaders and, in some cases, armed groups, while also countering rumours that Ebola is a political tool or a fabrication.

The Red Cross has warned that the outbreak has not yet reached its peak and could take a year to bring under control. Aid agencies report that every flare-up in violence forces them to suspend operations, allowing the virus to spread unchecked among families and communities.

The epidemic has already crossed the border into neighbouring Uganda, where 19 confirmed cases, including two deaths, have been reported. Most of those infected there are Congolese travellers, and Ugandan authorities, working with international partners, have mounted aggressive screening and isolation measures at border points and health facilities.

Regional health officials say that without improved security, sustained funding and community trust, the death toll in DR Congo is likely to rise, and the risk of wider international spread will remain a constant concern.