More than 6,000 people infected with Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo

More than 6,000 people have been diagnosed with Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and 2,911 have died in what is described as the country’s worst epidemic.

About 619 people are currently in isolation or receiving treatment. The survival rate stands at slightly above 50 percent, meaning roughly one in two infected people survives. Health experts believe the actual number of cases may be higher because many infections have not been recorded.

The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, for which no specific vaccine or treatment is available. The disease spreads through contact with infected people or bodily fluids and causes highly contagious fever, diarrhea and bleeding.

The World Health Organization announced the outbreak in mid-May. Although Ituri in northeastern Congo was initially affected, cases have since appeared in six provinces. Authorities suspect the first infections may have gone undetected as early as February.

Clinical testing of two antiviral treatments began in early July. A trial involving Ervebo, a vaccine approved for the more common Zaire strain, started the following week. Africa CDC said suspicions that the Bundibugyo virus had mutated were not confirmed.