Congo Ebola Outbreak Becomes Deadliest in Country’s History

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed 2,325 people, surpassing the death toll from the country’s 2018–2020 epidemic.

Three months after it was declared, confirmed cases have risen to 4,945, including 101 detected in the previous 24 hours.

The outbreak, Congo’s 17th, is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments.

Efforts to contain it have been hampered by weak health infrastructure, community resistance and instability.

The case fatality ratio among confirmed infections has risen from about 20% in early June to 46%. Experts say this does not indicate that the virus has become more lethal, but instead points to shortcomings in surveillance, case detection and access to care.

The outbreak also spread to neighboring Uganda, where authorities recorded 20 confirmed cases and two deaths before declaring it over last month.

(Reuters, bak)