Ebola Death Toll in DR Congo Surpasses 5,000 as Outbreak Spreads Across Africa

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has exceeded 5,000, according to government data released Friday, as health authorities continue to struggle to contain the country’s deadliest Ebola epidemic on record.

The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus, has infected more than 10,000 people since it was declared in May. There are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments available to combat this strain.

Delayed detection, ongoing conflict and overstretched healthcare services have contributed to the rapid spread of the virus, making containment efforts increasingly difficult.

Eight of the DRC’s 26 provinces have been affected, with a significant number of deaths occurring outside designated treatment centers, further complicating efforts to monitor and control the outbreak.

Second-Largest Ebola Outbreak on Record

The current epidemic is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded globally, surpassed only by the 2014–2016 epidemic in West Africa.

That outbreak infected more than 28,600 people and claimed over 11,000 lives across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Outbreak Spreads Beyond Central Africa

The virus has also spread beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo, raising concerns about wider regional transmission.

Last week, Nigeria became the fourth African country to report an Ebola case, extending the outbreak’s geographical reach into West Africa.

East African countries Kenya and Uganda have also reported cases, highlighting the growing cross-border public health challenge.

The rising death toll and geographical spread have intensified concerns over the ability of affected countries to contain the outbreak, particularly given the absence of approved vaccines and treatments for the Bundibugyo strain.