Ebola death toll in DR Congo climbs to 101

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported 101 confirmed Ebola deaths, expressing concern over armed groups hindering the response in the hardest-hit province of Ituri.

In its latest situation report on Monday, the DRC’s government said it recorded 35 new confirmed cases in the previous 24 hours, including 10 deaths.

The figures brought the total number of confirmed cases to 550 and the total number of confirmed deaths to 101.

The outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the DRC was announced on May 15, though officials have since said it went undetected for weeks, leaving health authorities behind the curve and struggling to bring it under control.

The outbreak is concentrated in three provinces long beset by armed conflict: Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.

The country’s government said the latest cases were recorded in 17 of Ituri’s health zones, as well as seven health zones in North Kivu and one in South Kivu.

The presence of armed groups in Djugu, Irumu and Mambasa – all in Ituri – was continuing “to limit humanitarian access in multiple health zones affected or at risk”, the report said.

According to researchers, more than 120 armed groups operate in the three provinces, with conflict there fuelled by ethnic tensions, political rivalries, corruption, and fighting for control of valuable natural resources.