Confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo have climbed to 3,200, with total deaths reaching 1,405, official government figures released Sunday show, making it the fastest-spreading outbreak on record.
Data from the National Institute of Public Health reveals infections surged by roughly 1,000 in ten days. Over a single 24-hour period, health authorities reported 125 new cases and 51 fatalities.
Nearly 90% of cases remain concentrated in northeastern Ituri province. However, transmission has now reached five provinces, driven by intense cross-border movement, active insecurity, and local trade networks.
The 17th national outbreak, declared May 15, stems from the Bundibugyo virus strain. Unlike the Zaire strain, Bundibugyo lacks commercially approved vaccines or licensed therapeutics, hindering response operations.
Containment efforts face severe operational friction. Strikes by health workers demanding unpaid wages, physical attacks on treatment facilities, and logistically isolated terrain continue to hamper surveillance and patient care.
The crisis is poised to become the second-largest Ebola epidemic in history. In response, researchers are fast-tracking clinical trials, including Oxford University launching early human trials for a candidate vaccine.
