Ebola kills 1,700 in eastern Congo as the fastest-growing outbreak surges

A deadly Ebola outbreak has claimed over 1,700 lives in eastern Congo, marking the swiftest surge of the disease, according to recent data. As of Tuesday, the outbreak had recorded 3,802 cases and 1,707 fatalities, with the latest government update revealing the grim statistics. The duration of the outbreak's peak remains uncertain, with Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya expressing his concerns during his recent visit to Bunia, the town located near the outbreak's epicenter.

Kaseya highlighted that a vast majority of new cases, around 80%, are not originating from contact tracing efforts, but rather from community spread itself.

The World Health Organization's Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is scheduled to arrive in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, today. He is expected to pay a visit to Bunia later this week. The outbreak, officially declared on May 15, has been traced back to the Bundibugyo virus, which currently lacks approved vaccines or treatments.

Numerous obstacles have impeded the response to the Ebola outbreak. Delays in contact tracing, challenges in accessing affected areas, mistrust from local communities, and violent actions by armed groups and some residents have all played a role in hindering efforts to curb the spread of the disease. Two clinical trials for post-exposure prophylaxis drugs are currently underway in Ituri province, while vaccine trials are also being conducted in the U.K. and Canada.

The outbreak is primarily centered in eastern Congo's remote Ituri province, which accounts for nearly 90% of the reported cases. However, cases have also been confirmed in five other provinces, including in Kisangani, one of the country's largest cities. Neighboring Uganda has recently declared itself free of Ebola, following the discharge of the country's last patient in mid-June.