DR Congo Ebola Cases Exceed 5,000 Amid Struggling Response

The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded more than 5,000 confirmed Ebola cases as health authorities struggle to contain the country’s largest outbreak of the disease.

Government data released on Tuesday showed that the current outbreak has reached 5,021 cases, with 2,378 deaths recorded so far. The outbreak surpassed the previous record set between 2018 and 2020, making it the largest Ebola epidemic in the country’s history by both cases and deaths.

The outbreak, which was declared on May 15, is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments.

Health officials say efforts to contain the disease have been hampered by weak healthcare infrastructure, community resistance, instability and protests by response workers.

The latest figures make the outbreak the second-largest Ebola epidemic globally in terms of reported infections and deaths, behind the 2014–2016 West African outbreak.

Authorities are continuing efforts to identify cases and strengthen the response as the disease continues to spread.