Congo Ebola Death Toll Surpasses 5,000

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has surpassed 5,000, making it the deadliest recorded epidemic in the country, government data showed on Friday.

The outbreak has infected more than 10,000 people since authorities declared it in May.

Health officials are yet to find an effective way to control the spread of the virus. The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments.

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Delayed detection, ongoing conflict and pressure on health services have also allowed the virus to spread faster than in previous outbreaks.

According to government data, the outbreak has affected eight of Congo’s 26 provinces. Many of the deaths have occurred outside treatment centres.

The outbreak is now the second-largest Ebola epidemic recorded globally. It is surpassed only by the 2014–2016 outbreak in West Africa, which infected more than 28,600 people and killed over 11,000 across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Meanwhile, the outbreak has spread beyond Central Africa. Last week, Nigeria became the fourth African country to report an Ebola case, extending the outbreak’s reach to West Africa.

East African countries Kenya and Uganda have also reported cases, raising concerns that the virus could spread further across the continent.

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Deborah Akwa

Deborah Akwa is a content writer with over four years of experience creating brand stories, editorial content, and audience-focused articles on topics like health, lifestyle, and entertainment.

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