Congo Ebola Outbreak Tops 5,000 Cases, Deadliest Pace on Record
The Bundibugyo strain has killed 2,378 people in Congo's 17th Ebola epidemic, spreading faster than any previous outbreak as attacks on health workers hamper the response.
Congo's Ebola outbreak has surpassed 5,000 cases, health ministry data showed Wednesday, as responders warn the epidemic is spreading at an unprecedented pace in one of the country's most remote and unstable regions.
The ministry recorded 5,021 cases, including 2,378 deaths, as of Sunday. The outbreak, Congo's 17th, is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which no approved vaccines or treatments exist.
Officials say the epidemic has infected and killed people faster than any Ebola outbreak in history, fueled by insecurity, displacement and heavy population movement in the affected areas. It was declared on May 15, and from its first detected case has spread roughly three times faster than the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, which killed more than 11,000 people and remains the deadliest on record.
"The epidemic has spread rapidly and the risk of further national and international spread remains high," World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Tuesday at a meeting convened by the agency. "We must be frank: The epidemic is far from being under control," he said.
The response has been hampered by violence against health workers, particularly in Ituri province, the hardest-hit area. On Monday, residents in the territory of Aru attacked a health team after a suspected case was reported there. A mob set fire to an ambulance and damaged two other vehicles, according to Michael Wani, president of the Union of Cultural Associations for the Development of Ituri.
The outbreak's toll continues to climb rapidly, with officials warning that containment remains elusive amid the volatile security situation.
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.
