More than 5,000 die from Ebola in DR Congo’s deadliest outbreak
By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent More than 5,000 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the deadliest Ebola epidemic in national history. Official health ministry data confirms that the death toll has now reached 5,026 patients out of 10,351 confirmed cases. This represents a case fatality rate of 48.6 percent, […]
More than 5,000 people have died in the deadliest Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo's history, according to official health ministry data. The death toll has risen to 5,026 out of 10,351 confirmed cases, resulting in a case fatality rate of 48.6 percent. The epidemic began in mid-May and quickly caught authorities off guard.
By August, it had surpassed the country's previous deadliest outbreak, which claimed 2,299 lives between 2018 and 2020. The outbreak is now the second largest Ebola outbreak in world history, trailing only the 2014 to 2016 West Africa epidemic, which caused over 11,325 fatalities. Dr. Patrick Otim, a programme area manager with the World Health Organization, emphasized that the toll is not merely a statistic, but a devastating impact on families and communities.
The epidemic is primarily concentrated in the conflict-affected provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, which account for 9,782 confirmed cases and 4,792 deaths. The virus has spread to 67 out of 178 health zones across eight provinces, with active cases reported in 50 health zones. It has also crossed international borders into three African regions, making it the most geographically widespread outbreak in continental history.
Despite the regional spread, health officials stress that the wider geographical risk remains contained.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- Congo's Ebola deaths top 5,000 as fear of continent-wide spread mounts pbs.org
- More than 5,000 die from Ebola in DR Congo's deadliest outbreak bbc.co.uk
- Congo Ebola outbreak kills more than 5 000 sabcnews.com
- Ebola: Young doctor dies treating patients in DR Congo dailypost.ng
- DR Congo Ebola outbreak death toll passes 5,000 freemalaysiatoday.com
- DR Congo: MSF celebrates Ebola patient discharges in Ituri province euronews.com
- Ebola: Africa CDC mourns as DRC doctor dies from virus premiumtimesng.com
- Congo's Ebola deaths top 5,000 as fear of continent-wide spread mounts medicalxpress.com
