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

What the report says

BBC World News reports that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has now caused more than 5,000 deaths, according to government data, making it the country’s deadliest Ebola outbreak on record. Officials say the epidemic began in May and has since spread across eight of the country’s 26 provinces, with more than 10,300 confirmed cases and a case fatality rate of 48.6%.

The health ministry says the main epicentre remains in Ituri province in the north-east, an area affected by conflict that has complicated efforts to contain the virus. The outbreak is the 17th Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, according to the United Nations, and is described as the second largest in the country’s history. BBC also notes that cases have been confirmed in Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda.

Health authorities and the World Health Organization say testing, treatment and vaccine trials are under way, alongside efforts to expand access to affected areas and improve community outreach. However, the strain involved is the Bundibugyo species, for which there is not yet a licensed treatment or vaccine. The BBC says violent attacks on health workers have also hindered response efforts.

The report adds broader context on Ebola’s severity and transmission, noting that the disease spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids and can progress rapidly. It also places the current crisis against previous major outbreaks in DR Congo and West Africa, underscoring why public health officials warn that this outbreak is moving faster than earlier ones.