Congo-Kinshasa: Ebola Outbreak Becomes Deadliest in DR Congo's History

The Ebola outbreak in Congo-Kinshasa has become the deadliest in the country's history, with the UN's World Health Organization reporting 2,325 deaths so far. This surpasses the 2,299 deaths recorded during the 2018-2020 outbreak, previously the deadliest. The current outbreak, declared on May 15, has also become the largest in terms of confirmed cases, reaching 4,945 as of late July.

There are currently 730 patients in isolation or hospital, while 1,040 have recovered. The fatality rate has risen to 46%. The outbreak is outpacing the response, with inadequate health infrastructure, conflict, and distrust of medical authorities hindering efforts. Vaccine trials are underway in the UK and Canada, as the strain has no approved treatment.

The UN and its global health partners are working to prevent the spread to neighboring countries like South Sudan and the Central African Republic. The UN humanitarian aid office has allocated $54.5 million to accelerate the response, while MINUSCA in the Central African Republic is providing technical assistance and equipment. WHO aims to control the fast-moving spread of Ebola within three months, but support is still needed for all areas of the response.