Congo's fast-moving Ebola outbreak becomes country's worst with over 2,300 dead

BUNIA, Congo - The fast-moving Ebola outbreak in Congo has claimed over 2,300 lives, making it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the history of the Central African nation. The current outbreak, which is unfolding in one of the country's most vulnerable regions, is also the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded, with a staggering 4,945 cases including 2,325 deaths, according to the latest government data released overnight into Monday.

This outbreak marks Congo's 17th Ebola outbreak, surpassing the death toll of the 2018-2020 outbreak, which recorded 2,299 deaths out of 3,481 cases. As of the previous 24 hours, there have been 101 new cases and 33 deaths. Over 1,000 people have recovered from the disease, while 730 individuals remain hospitalized or in isolation.

The outbreak has infected and killed more people at an unprecedented speed than any other outbreak in history. The World Health Organization has expressed concern that it is on track to surpass the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which remains the deadliest on record with over 11,000 deaths. Trish Newport, an emergency coordinator with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), highlighted the limited community engagement in the fight against the outbreak.