Ebola deaths cross 2,000 in Congo, spread fastest on record

The Story in Brief

The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has killed over 2,000 people, with confirmed deaths reaching 2,011 as of Tuesday, according to Congolese government data seen by Reuters. The health ministry reports 4,381 confirmed cases across five provinces, making it the fastest-spreading outbreak on record. The current outbreak, Congo's 17th, is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, which has no approved vaccines or treatments. The World Health Organization, which has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, warns it could surpass West Africa's 2014-2016 epidemic that killed 11,310 people.

Data from Congo's public health institute shows the virus has spread much faster than previous outbreaks. The current outbreak hit 2,000 deaths in less than three months, while the 2014 West African outbreak took nearly five months to reach 1,000 deaths. Deaths jumped from 1,000 to 2,000 in less than a month. A study published in Science suggests transmission may have begun in January in Ituri province, with over 500 suspected cases between mid-January and May. Shortages of medical supplies and insecurity have hampered containment efforts. Cases have also been reported in neighbouring Uganda.