DR Congo Ebola outbreak becomes world's second-largest as cases surge past 3,500

· Health CODUGA

The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the second-largest outbreak in history, surpassing the devastating 2018–2020 epidemic after confirmed cases jumped from 2,000 in mid-July to 3,532 in a matter of weeks. The death toll has reached 1,556, with the case fatality rate at 44.1 percent.

The World Health Organization has warned the true scale of transmission may be up to four times higher than official figures, while the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention attributed the rising toll to previously unconfirmed cases and deaths now captured in revised data. The outbreak, declared on 15 May and driven by the Bundibugyo strain, has spread across five eastern provinces.

Clinical trials for a Bundibugyo vaccine began in early July, with roughly 20 participants enrolled by mid-month. Uganda, which ended its own outbreak in June, has deployed experts to border zones including Tchomia and Kasenyi.

Story development

  1. DR Congo Ebola outbreak becomes world's second-largest as cases surge past 3,500
  2. UN calls for massive aid expansion as Congo Ebola death toll tops 1,400
  3. Congo Ebola death toll passes 1,400 as clinical trials begin on antiviral therapies
  4. Congo Ebola death toll surpasses 1,000 as fastest-growing outbreak on record spreads
  5. Congo Ebola cases near 2,500 as outbreak widens to 42 health zones
  6. DRC Ebola death toll surpasses 930 as Bundibugyo strain outpaces prior outbreaks
  7. DR Congo Ebola deaths reach 796 as outbreak outpaces all previous records
  8. Congo Ebola outbreak likely to persist into 2027, expert warns
  9. Ebola outbreak spreads to two new provinces in DR Congo as death toll climbs

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