KINSHASA — The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is on track to surpass the deadliest Ebola epidemic on record if it continues at its current pace, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.
“At its current pace, it’s on track to eclipse the West African Ebola outbreak of 2014 to 2016,” Tedros told reporters, according to the Associated Press. That epidemic killed more than 11,000 people.
Congo’s current outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, has killed more than 2,000 people among more than 4,300 confirmed cases, according to health authorities cited by the WHO and AP. The WHO said the outbreak had crossed 2,000 deaths just 86 days after it was officially declared on May 15.
The WHO has described the outbreak as the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in Congo. Its latest detailed situation report, based on data through July 30, recorded 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths in Congo, with infections reported across five provinces.
Tedros said the outbreak was the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic yet and that the response was struggling to keep pace. Health authorities believe transmission began months before the outbreak was formally declared, with genetic evidence pointing to February.
The Bundibugyo strain presents additional challenges because there are no approved vaccines or specific treatments in routine use for it. Clinical trials of candidate vaccines and treatments have begun in affected areas.
WHO officials said the outbreak is occurring in remote, conflict-affected areas where limited infrastructure, insecurity and misinformation are complicating surveillance and access to healthcare. The WHO's risk assessment places the risk in Congo at very high.
The outbreak remains active, with WHO and Congolese authorities continuing surveillance, treatment and containment efforts as the situation develops.
