The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing its most severe Ebola outbreak on record, with fatalities now exceeding 2,325 according to official figures released Sunday. This grim milestone surpasses the previous deadliest outbreak in the nation, which occurred between 2018 and 2020. The public health institute confirmed that confirmed infections have climbed to nearly 5,000 cases, with over 100 new diagnoses reported in just the previous day.
The current epidemic has spread across six provinces within the DRC, with the northeastern Ituri province accounting for the majority of cases since the outbreak’s initial detection there. Notably, this represents the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak documented in the virus’s known history. The United Nations recently warned that mortality rates remain alarmingly high, with deaths occurring at a rate of approximately one person every half hour.
Contributing to the crisis is the involvement of the Bundibugyo strain, a rare variant for which no approved vaccines or treatments currently exist. Public health officials on the ground have noted that many cases continue to be identified very late in progression, limiting treatment effectiveness. Neighboring Uganda has also reported cases, primarily concentrated in Kampala, prompting the World Health Organization to declare the situation a public health emergency of international concern in May.
Originally reported by Theguardian →
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