Congo Ebola outbreak passes 5,000 cases, with death toll exceeding 2,300

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 5,000, according to government data, as health officials warn that efforts to contain the deadly disease are struggling.

The country’s 17th Ebola epidemic became its largest ever by number of cases in late July, Caliber.Az reports, citing British media.

The death toll reached 2,378 over the weekend, according to the public health institute, exceeding the previous record set during the 2018-2020 outbreak.

The institute has recorded 5,021 cases in its latest situation report, making the outbreak the second-worst Ebola epidemic globally in terms of both cases and deaths, after the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments.

The outbreak was declared on May 15 and has since gained momentum. Weak health infrastructure, resistance from local communities, instability and protests by response workers have hampered efforts to identify cases and contain the disease.

By Aghakazim Guliyev