DRC Ebola outbreak surpasses 5,000 cases, 2,378 deaths, becoming country’s deadliest on record

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surpassed 5,000 confirmed cases and 2,378 deaths — becoming the country’s deadliest Ebola epidemic on record and the second worst globally behind the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak.

As reported by Tribune, the outbreak — declared May 15 and caused by the Bundibugyo strain for which no approved vaccine or treatment exists — has spread across 55 health zones in six provinces. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned the epidemic was spreading “at an unprecedented pace” and was “far from being under control.”

Containment efforts face severe obstacles including insecurity, healthcare infrastructure collapse, community resistance and health worker attacks. In Ituri province, residents set an ambulance ablaze after a suspected case was reported.

The 2,378 deaths surpass the 2,299 recorded in the DRC’s previously deadliest 2018-2020 outbreak.