The DR Congo Ebola outbreak has killed 2,325 people among 4,945 recorded cases, according to the government and the World Health Organisation.
The toll has surpassed the 2,299 deaths recorded during the country’s 2018-2020 epidemic. The current outbreak is Congo’s deadliest and fastest-growing on record.
Officials recorded 101 new cases and 33 deaths during one recent 24-hour period. A weekly peak reached 579 cases and 304 deaths, according to the supplied figures.
The virus is spreading across six provinces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Ituri as the outbreak’s epicentre. More than 1,000 patients have recovered. Another 730 remain in hospitals or isolation units.
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The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus strain. No authorised vaccine or specific treatment is currently available for the strain.
Response teams are also facing security and logistical problems. These include armed-group activity, health-worker strikes and community mistrust.
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Authorities and international partners have allocated $30.5 million and extra staff for the response. WHO has warned that rapid action is needed to contain further spread.
