The latest government data released on Sunday revealed that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in the deaths of 2,325 individuals, surpassing the toll of the 2018-2020 outbreak and making it the deadliest in the country’s history. The country’s public health institute reported an increase in confirmed cases to 4,945, with 101 new cases identified within the previous 24 hours. This outbreak, the 17th in the country, has already set a record for the highest number of cases. Surpassing the 2,299 deaths recorded in the previous 2018-2020 outbreak, this current outbreak is now the worst on record in the nation.

The total number of confirmed cases stands at 4,945 according to the latest data. Three months since its official declaration, this outbreak is now second only in size to the West Africa Ebola outbreak of 2014-2016, which saw 28,616 cases and 11,310 deaths across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The speed of the current outbreak is notable, with 2,000 deaths reported in less than three months, compared to nearly five months for the West Africa outbreak to reach 1,000 deaths.

The current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, lacks approved vaccines or treatments. The case fatality ratio has risen from about 20% in early June to 46%, indicating that nearly half of confirmed cases are now fatal. This increase is attributed to challenges in surveillance, case detection, and access to care rather than a heightened lethality of the virus. Various experimental vaccines and therapies are being explored, with limited evidence from animal studies so far.

The outbreak had previously spread to neighboring Uganda but was contained with two deaths and 20 confirmed cases before being declared over. Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and can lead to symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and potentially fatal internal and external bleeding.