Ebola death toll in DR Congo passes 5,000

KINSHASA: The Ebola death toll in the Democratic Republic of Congo has now exceeded 5,000, according to government data released on Friday. The country is grappling with its deadliest Ebola epidemic on record as authorities struggle to contain the outbreak. There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines available to combat the rare Bundibugyo species responsible for the current outbreak in Central Africa. Since the outbreak began in May, it has infected over 10,000 people.

Several factors, including delayed detection, conflict, and strained health services, have contributed to the rapid spread of the virus more than in previous outbreaks. Eight of the Democratic Republic of Congo's 26 provinces have been impacted by the epidemic, with a significant number of fatalities occurring outside of treatment centers.

This year's Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo ranks as the second-largest in history, surpassed only by the 2014-2016 outbreak that infected over 28,600 people and claimed more than 11,000 lives across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Last week, Nigeria became the fourth African country to report an Ebola case, expanding the outbreak's geographic reach to West Africa. East African nations Kenya and Uganda have also reported cases of the virus.