Ebola outbreak in DR Congo growing 'exponentially' as death toll passes 2,500

What the report says

France 24 reports that Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the country’s largest outbreak on record and is spreading at a pace the United Nations says exceeds any previous epidemic. Julien Harneis, the UN senior Ebola coordinator, said the death toll has passed 2,500, with more than half of those deaths occurring in the last 20 days. He spoke from Bunia, in eastern Congo, which the report describes as near the epicentre of the outbreak.

According to the article, the outbreak was declared on May 15 but may already have been circulating for weeks before that. It has affected areas in the north and east where state authority is limited, health services are weak and armed groups have been active for years. France 24 says the epidemic is now spreading across a territory larger than France.

Harneis called for a rapid increase in staffing and resources, especially in remote parts of eastern DR Congo, arguing that a stronger response could slow transmission and eventually bring the outbreak under control. He warned that without additional support, the epidemic could become deadlier and spread into neighbouring countries.

More broadly, the report highlights the challenge of responding to Ebola in conflict-affected areas, where access, surveillance and treatment can be difficult. The article was published by France 24 Africa and attributed to France 24 with AFP.