Congo Ebola cases top 5,000 as death toll reaches 2,378
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Confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo exceed 5,000, government data show. The death toll stands at 2,378, making the outbreak the largest in the country's history. The Bundibugyo strain causing the outbreak has no approved vaccines or treatments.
Key Facts
- The Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 5,021 confirmed Ebola cases in its latest situation report.
- The death toll reached 2,378, surpassing the previous worst outbreak in 2018-2020.
- 24.kz reported 2,379 deaths and a case fatality rate just above 47%.
- The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which has no approved vaccines or treatments.
- The outbreak was declared on May 15 and has spread to six provinces in the DRC.
Case and Death Toll
The public health institute's latest situation report recorded 5,021 confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC. The 5,021-case total makes the outbreak the second-worst globally, behind only the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic. The death toll reached 2,378, surpassing the 2018-2020 outbreak as the country's deadliest. 24.kz reported 2,379 deaths and a case fatality rate just above 47%. The virus has spread across six provinces.
Strain and Containment
The ongoing outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which has no approved vaccines or treatments. Oxford University has begun clinical trials of a vaccine on volunteers. WHO official Thierno Balde linked uncontrolled movement of people to the outbreak's territorial spread. The outbreak was declared on May 15 in the DRC and Uganda. Weak health infrastructure, community resistance, instability and protests by response workers have hindered efforts to identify and respond to cases.
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Congo Ebola cases top 5,000 as death toll reaches 2,378
