Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo becomes second largest ever recorded
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has surpassed the country's previous worst outbreak, becoming the second largest Ebola epidemic in history. Government data confirms 3,802 cases and 1,707 deaths, with patient zero still unidentified and contact tracing breaking down.
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is now spreading faster than any outbreak health officials have ever tracked. Government data confirmed 3,802 cases and 1,707 deaths as of Tuesday, and patient zero still hasn't been identified. Africa CDC says contact tracing has effectively broken down, with 60-70 percent of new cases now spreading directly within communities. The outbreak has passed Congo's own 2018-2020 record, making it the second largest Ebola epidemic ever recorded, behind only the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak. The rare Bundibugyo strain involved has no approved vaccine or treatment. WHO is monitoring over 17,000 potential contacts and testing roughly 2,000 samples a day, up from 20 when the outbreak began in May.