Deadliest Ebola outbreak in DRC history
The Ebola outbreak in the DRC has become the deadliest in the country's history, surpassing the 2018-2020 outbreak with a rare strain spreading rapidly.
The update
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history. The World Health Organization reported on Monday that the Bundibugyo strain has now killed 2,325 people, surpassing the previous record of 2,299 deaths from the 2018-2020 outbreak. The disease has infected 4,945 people, with 1,040 recoveries and 730 currently in isolation or hospital care. The fatality rate stands at 46 percent.
Why it matters
The current outbreak is the 17th to hit the DRC since Ebola was first identified. This version of the virus is rare and has no approved vaccines or treatments. Health officials say the spread is outpacing the response, with the epidemic killing one person every 30 minutes. The disease has spread to six of the country’s 26 provinces, primarily in the north-eastern region.
What to watch
International partners are working to prevent the virus from crossing borders into neighboring countries like South Sudan and the Central African Republic. The UN has allocated $54.5 million to support the response. Vaccine trials are underway in the UK and Canada, but the lack of approved treatments and ongoing conflict in the affected areas remain significant hurdles.
Sources
- UN News — death toll, case numbers, fatality rate, WHO response, international funding
- theguardian.com — recovery numbers, spread to provinces, lack of approved treatments
- bbc.co.uk — timeline comparison, spread to neighboring countries, strain characteristics
