Ebola Crisis in DR Congo Becomes the Most Lethal in History

The Democratic Republic of Congo is grappling with its deadliest Ebola outbreak on record, with fatalities now reaching 2,325, according to the latest data from the government. This alarming figure surpasses the previous high of 2,299 deaths recorded during the 2018-2020 outbreak.

As of now, confirmed Ebola cases have surged to 4,945, including 101 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. This ongoing outbreak, which was declared on May 15, has quickly escalated, making it the largest in Congo’s history regarding the number of cases.

Despite being the 17th outbreak in the nation, it still trails behind the catastrophic West African outbreak of 2014-2016 which resulted in over 28,000 cases and 11,310 deaths. In a concerning trend, the case fatality ratio has risen dramatically from 20% in early June to 46%, indicating that nearly half of those infected are succumbing to the virus.

Public health experts attribute this rise to persistent issues in healthcare access and delayed identification of cases rather than an increase in the virus's lethality. Thomas Parisch from Médecins Sans Frontières emphasized that late detections hinder effective treatment, with many patients identified only after death.

While experimental vaccines and therapies are under consideration, health authorities continue to face significant challenges in controlling the outbreak, which has already spread to neighboring Uganda.

Source: www.france24.com