The Newshound

More than 5,000 people have died in DR Congo's deadliest Ebola outbreak as cases spread to Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda

An Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, which began in May, has killed more than 5,000 people — nearly half of all those infected — with armed conflict in the east severely hampering containment efforts.
An Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, which began in May, has killed more than 5,000 people — nearly half of all those infected — with armed conflict in the east severely hampering containment efforts.

The outbreak, declared in mid-May, has now killed 5,026 of 10,351 infected — a near-50% fatality rate that the UN warns is "taking lives at a much faster rate" than any previous DR Congo outbreak. The epicentre remains Ituri province in the north-east, a conflict zone where tracing and testing efforts are being actively hampered. Eight of DR Congo's 26 provinces are now affected, with 50 health zones still seeing active cases.

The Bundibugyo virus strain driving this outbreak has no approved vaccine or treatment, leaving doctors to manage symptoms alone.

WHO programme manager Dr Patrick Otim said 5,000 deaths is "not just a number — it is families and communities devastated."

At 5,026 dead, this is already the second deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, behind only the 2014-2016 West Africa crisis that killed more than 11,325.

MoreBBC NewsMore than 5,000 die from Ebola in DR Congo's deadliest outbreakAPCongo’s Ebola deaths top 5,000 as fear of continent-wide spread mountsThe HeraldNumber of Ebola deaths passes 5,000 amid fears over containment efforts
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