DRC’s Ebola outbreak reaches 5,000 cases, outpaces response efforts at unprecedented speed

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 5,000, according to government data released late on Tuesday. Health officials are expressing concern that response efforts are proving ineffective in containing the deadly disease. The country's 17th Ebola epidemic, which began in late July, has become the biggest in the nation's history in terms of case numbers.

As of the latest public health institute report, there have been 5,021 cases, marking it as the second-worst outbreak globally, only surpassed by the 2014 to 2016 West Africa epidemic in terms of both infections and fatalities.

The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, a strain for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. Since the outbreak was declared on May 15, it has gained momentum as a combination of factors has hampered efforts to identify and respond to cases. These include weak health infrastructure, resistance from communities, instability, and protests by response workers.