The number of confirmed Ebola infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has surpassed 4,000 for the first time since the latest outbreak began, according to government health data.
The country’s public health institute said the total number of reported infections has reached 4,053, including 1,850 deaths.
The outbreak, which has been described by experts as one of the fastest-spreading Ebola epidemics on record, has affected five provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo.
Health experts believe the virus may have been circulating for months before authorities officially declared the outbreak on May 15. A study published in the journal Science indicated that the outbreak may have started as early as January in Ituri province.
Researchers identified more than 500 suspected cases between mid-January and May 15, suggesting that the actual number of infections could be significantly higher than official figures.
Authorities and health organisations have faced major challenges in containing the outbreak, including delayed detection, overstretched disease surveillance systems, ongoing military conflict and limited access to vaccines and treatments effective against the particular Ebola virus species involved.
The current outbreak is now considered the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, behind the 2014–2016 West African epidemic, which caused more than 28,000 cases across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Health officials continue to intensify efforts to detect new infections, trace contacts and prevent further transmission as the outbreak spreads across affected communities.
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