Ebola Cases Rise to 1,155 as DR Congo Tightens Travel Restrictions

The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 1,155 confirmed Ebola cases as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the growing outbreak.

Officials say expanded surveillance has improved early detection of infections, but community transmission continues to increase. Contact tracing remains a major challenge, with only 55% of known contacts currently being monitored, raising fears that many more cases remain undetected.

More than 35,000 people are believed to have been exposed to infected individuals, while authorities warn the outbreak has not yet reached its peak.

The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment. The World Health Organization is expected to begin using experimental treatments next week in an effort to slow the spread of the disease.

More than 300 people have died and about 100 have recovered, with the outbreak largely concentrated in Ituri Province.

Meanwhile, the Congolese government has tightened travel restrictions after a doctor who travelled from Kinshasa tested positive for Ebola upon arriving in France, raising concerns about the virus spreading across borders.