Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo becomes deadliest in country's history

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed 2,325 lives, making it the deadliest outbreak in the country's history, according to government data released on Sunday. This surpasses the death toll from the previous 2018-2020 outbreak, which previously held the grim record. As of the latest report, there have been 4,945 confirmed cases, with 101 new cases detected in the previous 24 hours.

The outbreak, Congo's 17th, has also become the largest in terms of case numbers, reaching this milestone in late July. The total death count now exceeds the 2,299 deaths recorded during the 2018-2020 outbreak, previously the worst in the country's history. The current Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo species, has no approved vaccines or treatments.

It has gained speed since its declaration on May 15, hampered by weak health infrastructure, community resistance, and instability. The case fatality ratio, the proportion of people dying after a confirmed infection, has risen from around 20% in early June to 46%. This increase does not suggest the virus has become more lethal; rather, it indicates ongoing issues with surveillance, detection, and access to care.

Global health authorities have declared a public health emergency as the outbreak has claimed more than 80 lives in Congo, with experimental vaccines and therapies being evaluated, though evidence is still limited to animal studies. Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, both living and deceased, causing symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe cases leading to internal and external bleeding.