DRC reports record number of Ebola cases in a single day as outbreak hits 1-month mark

Key Points:

• The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reported a record single-day increase of 72 new confirmed Ebola cases on June 13, raising the total to 782 cases and 181 deaths since the outbreak began a month ago.
• Ebola cases are primarily concentrated in the northeastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, with two new health zones now affected, bringing the total number of affected zones to 31.
• Contact tracing is insufficient, with only 56.5% of identified contacts being followed up, well below the 90%-95% target needed to control the outbreak, while community hesitance and shortages of medical supplies hamper response efforts.
• Uganda has reported 19 confirmed Ebola cases and two deaths linked to cross-border transmission from the DRC, raising concerns about regional spread.
• The U.S. State Department pledged $50 million to support vaccine development through CEPI and has contributed over $270 million to Ebola response efforts, including screening, health facility support, and safe burials in affected areas.