Ebola Update: The DRC health ministry says confirmed Ebola cases have reached 2,905 with 1,269 deaths, and it notes the jump is partly due to merging harmonized records from Ituri and North Kivu into the national database; 519 people have recovered, while 722 remain in isolation or treatment. Treatment Access: Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka warned that many patients arrive only after severe symptoms, pushing the government to expand community training so suspected cases seek care earlier. Response Funding: The government has allocated $50 million to boost laboratories, medical equipment, community surveillance, and patient care. Vaccine Trial Milestone: Oxford announced the first volunteer has been vaccinated in a human trial of a vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain. Regional Peace & Security: Kinshasa says neutralizing the FDLR remains a key obstacle to peace in the east, with diplomacy increasingly emphasized as deadlines pass without major progress on the ground. Diagnostics Boost: WHO added the first molecular diagnostic test for Bundibugyo virus to its Emergency Use Listing to speed up early confirmation and outbreak response. Cross-Border Preparedness: Neighbors are stepping up screening and emergency plans to reduce imported cases as the outbreak spreads. Health System Strain: A hospital-based study highlights a high burden of multidrug-resistant bacteria in eastern DRC, underscoring pressure on infection control and antibiotic effectiveness. Mineral Tech & Exports: The DRC began its first-ever lithium exports to China from the Zijin Manono project, shipping spodumene concentrate as production ramps up.