Ebola outbreak now DR Congo’s deadliest ever

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed over 2,300 lives in just three months, making it the country's deadliest outbreak ever, according to government data released on Monday. The United Nations reports this outbreak to be the fastest growing in recorded history, with victims dying at a rate of one every 30 minutes.

There is currently no specific vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain responsible for this surge, which spreads through contact with bodily fluids and causes a severe hemorrhagic fever. This 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC was declared on May 15, but had likely been spreading for weeks beforehand. The current outbreak has affected regions in the north and east, where the government's presence is weak, health infrastructure is lacking, and armed groups have been active for decades.

A 2018-2020 outbreak in the DRC, previously the deadliest, resulted in 2,299 deaths out of 3,381 confirmed cases. The latest toll by Congolese authorities puts the death toll at 2,325 from 4,945 confirmed cases. The deadliest Ebola outbreak on record occurred in West Africa from 2013-2016, killing over 11,300 people mainly in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.

The WHO hopes to curb the spread of the disease in the DRC within three months. The latest outbreak began in the conflict-prone northeastern Ituri province and has since spread to five other provinces. In the Ituri provincial capital of Bunia, where most cases have been recorded, efforts to curb the disease appear ineffective as people continue to flock to markets without proper protective measures.

Community engagement in the response remains weak, with many preferring to treat the disease at home, mistaking it for poisoning or another illness. Healthcare workers have faced challenges accessing affected communities due to the presence of armed groups in some regions.