The deadly Ebola outbreak in DR Congo reaches record heights
Public health authorities have confirmed the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is the deadliest ever recorded in the country. 2,325 deaths have been reported since the epidemic began on 15 May, exceeding the 2018‑20 outbreak’s toll.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the outbreak is the fastest‑growing on record – a serious case in DR Congo is dying every 30 minutes. The virus continues to spread across six of 26 provinces, and the transmission rate remains described as “exceptional.”
Official data from DR Congo’s Institute of Public Health show 4,945 confirmed cases, with 101 new cases reported in the previous 24 hours. While cases outside the country remain few – 20 in Uganda, two in Germany and one in France – the pace within DR Congo is alarming.
Ebola’s Bundibugyo species, responsible for this outbreak, is rare, with only two prior outbreaks in its 50‑year history. Unlike previous strains, there is yet no approved vaccine. However, several candidates are in development, one of which uses the same technology base that underpinned the AstraZeneca Covid‑19 vaccine.
The United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted permission for the first human trials of this vaccine. An Oxford‑based team is leading the effort, and additional groups are also developing alternative vaccine candidates.
Meanwhile, the WHO is sponsoring a clinical trial in DR Congo to evaluate whether two existing antiviral therapies can improve survival rates for patients infected with the Bundibugyo strain.
The outbreak’s rapid spread is linked to DR Congo’s prolonged conflict and highly mobile population, which intensify challenges in disease control and health‑system resilience.
Public health officials are now working to halt further transmission, aiming to bring infections under control within three months, though total elimination of the outbreak remains uncertain with current resources and vaccine availability.
