The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in the nation's history, claiming 2,325 lives and surpassing the 2,299 deaths recorded during the 2018–2020 outbreak. The National Institute of Public Health reported 4,945 confirmed cases, including 101 in the preceding 24 hours, with the case fatality rate rising to approximately 47 percent.
The outbreak, declared on May 15 and caused by the Bundibugyo strain, is the fastest-growing in recorded history, according to U.N. emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher, who warned that someone dies from the virus every 30 minutes. No approved vaccines or treatments exist for the strain. Six provinces are affected, with more than 3,400 cases in Ituri alone.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned the epidemic is on track to eclipse the 2014–2016 West African outbreak, which killed 11,310 people. Uganda was declared Ebola-free on July 28 after containing 20 cases.