Congo Ebola outbreak becomes deadliest in country's history as death toll reaches new peak

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has now become the deadliest in the nation's history, with government data revealing 2,325 fatalities. This figure surpasses the 2,299 deaths recorded during the 2018-2020 outbreak, which was previously the country's most severe.

Confirmed cases have climbed to 4,945, with 101 new infections reported in the 24 hours prior to the latest data release. The outbreak, declared on May 15, has seen a dramatic increase in its case fatality ratio, rising from approximately 20% in early June to 46% currently. This means nearly half of all confirmed cases are now fatal, a trend experts attribute to persistent shortcomings in surveillance and early treatment access rather than increased virus lethality.

This outbreak, the country's 17th, is also the largest in terms of case numbers. It is now second only to the West Africa Ebola outbreak of 2014-2016, which saw over 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. Efforts to contain the virus are hampered by weak health infrastructure, community resistance, and ongoing instability in the region.