Kathmandu— A recent surge in Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has resulted in 2,325 deaths, exceeding the toll from the 2018-2020 outbreak and marking the deadliest Ebola epidemic in the country’s history. As of Sunday, a total of 4,945 people have been infected with the virus, including 101 new cases reported within the last 24 hours, according to the DRC’s National Public Health Institute. The current outbreak is being hampered by weak health infrastructure, regional remoteness, and ongoing conflict, while the specific strain lacks approved vaccines or treatments.

Escalating Crisis

The Ebola outbreak, which marks the DRC's 17th instance of the virus, reached a critical point in late July when it surpassed previous outbreaks in terms of total cases. Tom Fletcher, the United Nations humanitarian chief, warned on Friday that “the outbreak is the fastest growing on record,” and emphasized the urgent need for increased resources and coordination. He stated, “We need speed, scale, and solidarity before this virus gets even further ahead of us.”

Rising Fatality Rate

Data from the DRC government reveals a concerning trend: the case fatality ratio – the proportion of infected individuals who die – has dramatically increased from approximately 20 percent in early June to 46 percent. This means that nearly half of all confirmed Ebola cases are now proving fatal. Thomas Parisch, a public health specialist with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), explained this anomaly, noting that “Normally, as an outbreak progresses, the case fatality ratio should fall as contact tracing improves and patients are identified and treated earlier.” He added that many cases are being detected late in their progression, or only after death within communities, hindering effective treatment.

Challenges to Containment

The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments. This presents a significant challenge to containment efforts. The spread has been exacerbated by several factors including weak health infrastructure in the affected regions, their remoteness making access difficult, and ongoing conflict near borders with South Sudan, Uganda, and Rwanda. These conditions have collectively hindered effective response operations.

Comparison to Past Outbreaks

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Wednesday that the current outbreak is progressing at a rate that could soon surpass the devastating West African Ebola epidemic of 2014-2016, which claimed over 11,000 lives and spurred significant investment in vaccine development. The previous deadliest outbreak within DRC, from 2018 to 2020, recorded 2,299 deaths – a figure now surpassed by the current crisis.

Health authorities are currently evaluating experimental vaccines and therapies, as well as assessing whether existing Ebola treatments might offer some protection, though evidence remains limited to animal studies. The situation continues to be closely monitored with ongoing efforts focused on improving contact tracing and early detection.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.