Here's data that shows Congo's Ebola outbreak is on track to surpass history's largest

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is spreading rapidly and has the potential to surpass the deadliest outbreak on record, which occurred in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, with over 11,000 deaths. According to data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the current outbreak has recorded 2,516 deaths out of 5,290 confirmed cases, with only 30-40% of cases detected so far.

The outbreak began in February, months before it was officially declared on May 15. The contact tracing rate is only 16% of expected contacts, and many cases are not being reported, particularly in the affected health zones. The transmission has expanded to 56 health zones across six provinces, and deaths outside Ebola treatment centers account for 97% of reported deaths.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccines or treatments, and its symptoms are milder than the common Ebola virus type, which could result in fewer people seeking treatment.