DR Congo Ebola outbreak death toll passes 5,000

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has now exceeded 5,000, according to government data released on Friday. This marks the deadliest Ebola epidemic on record in the Central African nation. To date, the outbreak has infected over 10,000 individuals since it was first identified in May.

There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines available to combat the Bundibugyo species of the virus responsible for the current outbreak. Delayed detection, ongoing conflict, and strained health services have all contributed to the rapid spread of the virus beyond what was seen in previous outbreaks.

As of now, eight out of the country's 26 provinces have been affected by the outbreak. Many of the fatalities have occurred outside of treatment centers. This year's Ebola outbreak is currently the second-largest in history, surpassed only by the 2014-2016 epidemic which infected over 28,600 people and claimed more than 11,000 lives across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Just last week, Nigeria became the fourth African country to report an Ebola case, extending the outbreak's geographic reach to West Africa. In addition to Congo, cases have also been reported in East African nations Kenya and Uganda.