DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Becomes Second-Largest in History as Cases Surge
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the second-largest ever recorded, with infections rising at an unprecedented pace and outstripping previous epidemics in a matter of weeks.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) data released on Friday, the outbreak has caused at least 3,553 confirmed cases and 1,558 deaths since it was declared in mid-May. The figures have already surpassed those recorded during the country’s 2018-2020 Ebola epidemic, which unfolded over nearly two years.
The current outbreak is second only to the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic, which infected more than 28,600 people and claimed over 11,300 lives. Health officials warn that the actual number of infections and deaths is likely to be higher than officially reported.
Carl Skau, acting executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme, described the outbreak as the fastest-spreading Ebola epidemic on record and urged greater international attention.
The outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which approved vaccines and treatments were initially unavailable. Efforts to contain the disease have been complicated by armed conflict, widespread displacement, population movement around gold-mining communities and insecurity in Ituri province, the epicentre of the epidemic.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently warned that transmission continues to outpace response efforts, with Ituri remaining the main area of concern despite progress made by health authorities.
Community transmission also remains high. Health officials estimate that about two-thirds of Ebola-related deaths occur outside medical facilities, increasing the risk of infections through unsafe burials and delayed treatment. Contact tracing has also struggled to keep pace with the rapidly expanding outbreak.
Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya said the response cannot be considered under control until nearly all new infections are identified through existing contact lists and deaths occur among patients already receiving care. He cautioned that those conditions have not yet been met.
Aid organisations say mistrust and traditional healthcare practices continue to hamper containment efforts.
“The disease has now settled in the community,” said Angele Gapio, head of emergencies for Caritas in Bunia. “People continue to seek treatment from traditional healers, and the chain of transmission continues.”
Despite the challenges, researchers are racing to evaluate new vaccines and treatments while the outbreak is ongoing.
A vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India targeting the Bundibugyo strain entered clinical trials last week. Researchers are also testing the monoclonal antibody treatment MBP134 alongside the antiviral drug remdesivir in affected communities.
Amanda Rojek, operations lead for the trial at Oxford’s Pandemic Sciences Institute, said conducting research during an active outbreak would allow evidence to inform patient care much sooner than traditional clinical studies.
Regional surveillance has also intensified. Uganda, which had recorded 20 linked cases earlier this year, was declared Ebola-free this week after completing enhanced monitoring, while neighbouring countries continue to strengthen cross-border screening and surveillance in coordination with Congolese authorities.
The outbreak is unfolding as the international response adapts to changes in global health funding and coordination. The United States has restructured its overseas health programmes following the closure of USAID and its withdrawal from the WHO, although funding for Ebola research and response continues. U.S. health officials maintain that the risk of Ebola spreading domestically remains low because of established public health systems.
