Ebola outbreak in DRC spreads rapidly, mortality rate nears 47 percent

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is escalating at an unprecedented rate, raising fears it could become the deadliest in history, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned. The virus is claiming a life every 30 minutes nationwide, underscoring the severity of the crisis.

As of August 12, national authorities reported over 4,660 confirmed cases and 2,184 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of nearly 47 percent. The outbreak, which began nearly three months ago in the Bundibugyo region, has now spread to six provinces across the DRC.

In response, international donors have pledged close to $300 million to support containment efforts. An additional $30.5 million has been allocated from the central emergency response fund, supplementing the $24 million previously directed to the DRC and four neighboring countries.

The United Nations has emphasized the urgent need for these funds to bolster the ongoing fight against the deadly virus, which continues to pose a significant threat to public health in the region.