Kathmandu— A deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has now infected 5,515 people and claimed 2,642 lives, according to recent government figures released Sunday; 51 new cases were detected in Ituri and North Kivu provinces as Pope Leo urged international action to contain the epidemic, which is the deadliest in DRC’s history. The outbreak, declared in mid-May, has been designated a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), extending its alert level to include neighboring Uganda; efforts to combat the disease are hampered by ongoing armed conflict and limited infrastructure.

Escalating Crisis and Rising Fatality Rate

The current Ebola outbreak in the DRC is rapidly escalating, with a case fatality rate that has nearly doubled from around 20 percent in early June to almost 48 percent. This means close to one out of every two people infected with the virus are dying. The outbreak is now on track to surpass the deadliest Ebola epidemic on record – the West Africa outbreak of 2014-2016, which resulted in over 11,000 deaths.

Challenges to Containment

Efforts to contain the outbreak are facing significant obstacles. Armed conflict, population displacement, attacks on medical personnel and facilities, a highly mobile population, and a lack of critical infrastructure all contribute to the continued spread of the disease. The virus has also proven deadly for healthcare workers themselves, with approximately 160 infected and around 45 fatalities among them, according to the WHO.

Vaccine Deployment and Response Needs

While there is no approved vaccine or treatment specifically for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola affecting the DRC, the WHO has pledged 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine – effective against other strains – with early data suggesting potential cross-protection. Some 16,250 doses arrived in the country on Friday. Public health consultant Abdulsalami Nasidi told Al Jazeera that the outbreak is “getting out of hand,” citing weak infection control and a lack of trust between authorities and affected communities. He warned that if the virus spreads to neighboring countries with lower immunity, it could be catastrophic.

International Appeals for Support

Pope Leo offered prayers for the DRC on Sunday, expressing concern over the escalating epidemic and calling for global action to save lives. He urged the international community to respond in a way that involves local communities in prevention efforts. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other officials have also called for a two to threefold increase in the response capacity to reach all affected areas, as well as greater support and protection for frontline health workers.

Despite the alarming rise in cases, some progress has been made, with transmission interrupted in Uganda and several health zones within DRC’s Ituri and South Kivu provinces, demonstrating that rapid detection and community cooperation can be effective.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.