The Democratic Republic of Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak has surpassed 5,000 confirmed infections, making it the country’s largest outbreak on record.
According to the country’s public-health institute, 5,021 cases and 2,378 deaths had been documented by August 19. These figures make it the world’s second-largest recorded Ebola outbreak, after the 2014–2016 epidemic in West Africa.
The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo species of the virus. Unlike the Zaire species responsible for several previous epidemics, no approved vaccine or treatment is currently available specifically for this strain.
The outbreak has expanded rapidly since it was declared on May 15. Public-health workers face significant obstacles, including inadequate medical infrastructure, regional instability, community resistance and protests involving response personnel.
The growing case count has raised concerns that infections could spread into additional communities unless surveillance, isolation and treatment capacity are strengthened.
