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Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo now deadliest in country’s history
The Guardian • • world
Key Points:
- The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become the deadliest in the country's history, with at least 2,325 deaths and 4,945 confirmed cases, surpassing the 2018-20 outbreak.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) warns the outbreak could surpass the 2014-16 West Africa Ebola epidemic as the largest in history, which had 28,616 cases and 11,310 deaths.
- The outbreak, mainly affecting six provinces including Ituri, is the fastest growing in known Ebola history, with over 2,000 deaths occurring in less than three months.
- No approved vaccines or treatments exist yet for the rare Bundibugyo strain causing the current surge, though clinical trials for two treatments and vaccines are underway.
- Uganda has reported 20 cases in Kampala with no community transmission, and the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in May, noting the virus began circulating months earlier.
