Ebola outbreak in Congo becomes country’s worst as virus spreads at “exceptional pace”

Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak has killed more than 2,300 people, making it the deadliest outbreak of the disease ever recorded in the country. Government figures released Monday put the total at 4,945 cases and 2,325 deaths. A further 101 infections and 33 deaths were recorded in the previous 24 hours. More than 1,000 people have recovered, while 730 remain in hospitals or isolation. The outbreak, Congo’s 17th, has already surpassed the death toll of the 2018-2020 outbreak, which killed 2,299 people. The World Health Organization says the virus is spreading at an “exceptional pace”, with 579 cases and 304 deaths recorded in the latest weekly figures. Limited community engagement remains a key challenge Trish Newport, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, said communities need to be more involved in the response. “People need to know what the signs and symptoms are and what to do if they get sick,” she told The Associated Press. The outbreak is affecting six provinces in eastern Congo, with Ituri among the hardest-hit areas. Some families there have lost as many as 15 relatives, Newport said. The response faces major obstacles, including unpaid health workers going on strike, attacks by rebel groups, poor roads and misinformation about Ebola. Most new cases are being detected outside the groups already under surveillance. Virus may have circulated months before outbreak was declared The virus responsible is the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccine or treatment exists. Clinical trials are underway in Ituri. Experts believe the virus may have been circulating in the mining town of Mongbwalu as early as February, months before authorities officially declared the outbreak on May 15. The U.N. has allocated an additional $30.5 million and sent 20 more staff to support the response. U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called the situation “a wake-up call” and urged greater speed and international support.