Congo’s Ebola outbreak kills more than 3,000, government figures show

Democratic Republic of Congo is grappling with its deadliest and most extensive Ebola outbreak in history, with death tolls exceeding 3,000, according to official figures released Wednesday. The Bundibugyo strain of the virus has fueled the epidemic, which has now spread across six provinces, despite containment efforts by local authorities, the World Health Organization, and aid organizations.

Initially declared in Ituri province on May 15, some experts believe the outbreak may have begun as early as January. As of the latest data, there have been 6,186 confirmed cases of the disease. The World Health Organization estimates that around 60% of these fatalities occur outside of treatment centers, underscoring the challenges of early detection and intervention.

The outbreak has surpassed the previous record set during the 2018-2020 epidemic, which recorded 3,026 deaths. It now ranks second only to the devastating 2014-2016 West African outbreak, which claimed over 11,000 lives across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. While there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo Ebola, several vaccine candidates are under development, including efforts from the University of Oxford and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.

Congolese authorities have already begun vaccinating frontline healthcare workers with Merck's Ervebo vaccine, which is licensed to protect against the Zaire species of Ebola and may offer some cross-protection against Bundibugyo.