The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced the death of Dr. Marie-France Shogogo, a physician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who contracted Ebola. Her passing occurred at an Ebola treatment center in Beni on Wednesday, October 28.
Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya shared news of her death in a post on X, expressing his sorrow after meeting Shogogo during a visit to Beni. He described her as a dedicated young doctor committed to saving lives and expressed that her loss is “deeply painful and outrageous.”
Kaseya emphasized the need to protect healthcare workers, stating, “We owe it to the memory of Dr. Shogogo, to her family, and to all frontline health workers.” He further called for an urgent response to end the ongoing outbreak, reinforcing the need for concerted efforts to combat the epidemic.
Shogogo’s death highlights the challenges faced by health professionals fighting the disease, especially as the DRC grapples with a significant outbreak first declared in May. As of October 27, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 10,193 confirmed cases and 4,960 fatalities in the country, leading to a case fatality rate of approximately 49 percent.
Ebola Outbreak Challenges
The outbreak has affected 66 health zones across eight provinces, with Ituri identified as the epicenter. North Kivu, where Beni is located, is the second most impacted area. WHO noted that a high proportion of deaths occurring in communities suggests ongoing issues with early detection and access to timely medical care.
The Ebola virus has also spread beyond the DRC’s borders, with Kenya confirming nine cases, including two fatalities. Nigeria recorded one imported case, while Uganda previously reported 20 confirmed infections and two deaths. France also documented a single imported case, which has since been discharged.
WHO identified the current outbreak as caused by the Bundibugyo virus. The organization classifies the risk in DRC as very high and urges neighboring countries to enhance surveillance and cross-border preparedness to mitigate the spread of the virus.
