DRC Ebola Cases Exceed 5,000 Amid Ongoing Outbreak

The African Union’s health agency reported over 5,000 cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking the worst outbreak in the country’s history. Declared on May 15, the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak is believed to have been spreading for weeks prior.

It has resulted in 2,378 deaths out of 5,021 confirmed cases, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The previous deadliest outbreak from 2018-2020 resulted in 2,299 deaths from 3,381 confirmed cases.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the epidemic is not under control, with a high risk of further spread. The current outbreak is attributed to the Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment, although clinical trials are ongoing.

The response has faced criticism for its slow pace and poor organization, compounded by community mistrust, leading to refusals of testing and resistance to control measures. The European Union announced the dispatch of testing kits valued at 2.5 million euros ($2.9 million).