Ebola outbreak in DR Congo becomes deadliest in country’s history

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is grappling with its deadliest Ebola outbreak on record, as the virus has claimed 2,325 lives, surpassing the toll of the 2018-2020 epidemic. The current outbreak, declared on May 15, has seen a rapid escalation, making it the fastest growing on record.

Official figures report 4,945 confirmed cases, with 101 new infections detected in the 24 hours prior to the report. The case fatality ratio, the proportion of confirmed infections that result in death, has alarmingly risen from about 20 percent in early June to 46 percent. This means nearly half of those diagnosed are now succumbing to the virus.

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The outbreak is the fastest growing on record. We need speed, scale, and solidarity before this virus gets even further ahead of us.

United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher stressed the urgent need for "speed, scale, and solidarity" to combat the virus before it spreads further. The outbreak's severity is exacerbated by a confluence of factors: the region's remoteness, a fragile health infrastructure, and persistent conflict along the DRC's borders with neighboring countries. These challenges significantly impede containment and response efforts, allowing the virus to gain momentum.

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Ebola is winning in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We cannot let the virus outrun our response.