More than 5,000 die from Ebola in DR Congo’s deadliest outbreak

More than 5,000 people have died in the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, making it the country’s deadliest recorded outbreak. It matters because the virus is spreading across multiple provinces and neighbouring countries, while conflict and attacks on health workers are making efforts to contain it harder.

The outbreak began in May and has caused more than 10,300 confirmed cases across eight of the country’s 26 provinces, with a case fatality rate of 48.6%. The Bundibugyo strain has no available vaccine or treatment, though clinical trials are under way; the previous deadliest outbreak in DR Congo killed 2,299 people between 2018 and 2020. Cases have also been confirmed in Kenya and Nigeria, while Uganda has reported none since August.