DRC Ebola Outbreak Becomes Deadliest in Country’s History

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history, with at least 2,325 deaths and 4,945 confirmed cases. The outbreak has surpassed the death toll from the DRC’s 2018-20 epidemic and is spreading rapidly, with 101 new cases recorded in one 24-hour period. Six of the country’s 26 provinces have been affected, while more than 3,400 cases have been reported in Ituri, where the outbreak began. The World Health Organization has warned that the epidemic could exceed West Africa’s 2014-16 outbreak, which killed 11,310 people. The current surge is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccines or treatments exist. However, clinical trials of two potential treatments began last month, while two vaccines developed for the strain are also being tested.