Ebola outbreak in DR Congo deadliest in country's history

The Democratic Republic of Congo is grappling with its deadliest Ebola outbreak on record, as the current epidemic has claimed 2,325 lives. This surpasses the death toll of 2,299 from the 2018-2020 outbreak, making it the most devastating in the country's history. The outbreak, Congo's 17th, had already become the largest in terms of case numbers in late July.

Official data indicates 4,945 confirmed cases, with 101 new cases reported in the 24 hours prior to the report. The outbreak, declared on May 15, is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. This contrasts with the West Africa outbreak of 2014-2016, which saw significantly more cases and deaths but had some treatments available.

Experts note that the case fatality ratio, the proportion of confirmed infections that result in death, has risen to 46% from about 20% in early June. This increase is not attributed to the virus becoming more lethal but rather to persistent shortcomings in surveillance, case detection, and access to timely care. "Instead, we're still seeing many cases detected very late, when treatment is less likely to succeed, with many identified only after they die in the community," said Thomas Parisch, a public health specialist with Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

Efforts to contain the outbreak are hampered by weak health infrastructure, community resistance, and ongoing instability. While a small number of experimental vaccines and therapies are being evaluated, their effectiveness is still under assessment. The outbreak had previously spread to neighboring Uganda, where it was contained with only two deaths and 20 confirmed cases.

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Instead, we're still seeing many cases detected very late, when treatment is less likely to succeed, with many identified only after they die in the community.