The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest on record in the nation, killing more than 2,300 people in just three months. The outbreak, unfolding in one of Congo's most vulnerable regions, is also the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic in history, with 4,945 cases recorded and 2,325 deaths as of Monday.
The current toll has surpassed that of Congo's 2018-2020 outbreak, which saw 2,299 deaths out of 3,481 cases. Government data released overnight indicated 101 new cases and 33 deaths in the preceding 24 hours. Over 1,000 individuals have recovered, while 730 remain in hospitals or isolation facilities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the outbreak is on track to exceed the 2014-16 West Africa Ebola epidemic, which was the deadliest on record with over 11,000 deaths. The current outbreak reached the 2,000 death toll almost three times faster than the 2014-16 epidemic.
"The community needs to be aware about the outbreak," said Trish Newport, emergency coordinator with Doctors Without Borders (MSF). "They need to be involved in the response, and they need to know what the signs and symptoms are and what to do if they get sick. And this today is not happening in every single place where there are Ebola cases."
Some families in the outbreak's epicenter, Ituri province, have lost up to 15 relatives, according to Newport. "We rapidly need to scale up to be able to prevent more deaths from happening, more families and communities from being impacted," she added.
There are no approved vaccines or treatments for the rare Bundibugyo virus responsible for the current outbreak, which has spread across six provinces in eastern Congo. Clinical trials for potential vaccines and treatments are ongoing in Ituri.
Many new cases and deaths are being reported among individuals not actively being monitored by health officials. Challenges facing medical teams include strikes by some unpaid health workers, threats from rebel groups, anger from communities affected by previous crises, poor road infrastructure hindering access to remote areas, and misinformation that denies the existence of Ebola.
The WHO warned that the outbreak is spreading at an "exceptional pace," outpacing containment efforts. In the previous week, the outbreak recorded a weekly high of 579 cases and 304 deaths. The United Nations humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, announced an additional $30.5 million in funding and the deployment of 20 more staff to bolster the response.
Experts believe the virus was circulating in the mining town of Mongbwalu as early as February, months before the official declaration of the outbreak on May 15. Health workers are implementing measures such as disinfecting bodies and burial sites, and using personal protective equipment to mitigate the spread of the virus. 
