Ebola spreads ‘exponentially’ in DRC as death toll hits 2,500
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading exponentially, with 2,500 deaths reported as health systems struggle to contain the virus. International aid organizations warn that insecurity and logistical challenges are outpacing the current response efforts.
Why it matters
The rapid spread of a lethal virus in a conflict-prone region poses a significant threat to regional stability and global health security.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading at an alarming rate, with more than 5,200 cases and nearly 2,500 deaths reported as the virus overwhelms health systems and outpaces efforts to contain it.
Julien Harneis, the U.N. senior coordinator for the Ebola response, warned Friday that the epidemic is growing “exponentially,” with roughly half of the deaths recorded in the past 20 days.
“The epidemic is spreading widely,” Harneis told reporters in Geneva from Bunia, the epicenter of the outbreak. “It is growing faster and wider than the Ebola response.”
The outbreak, which has affected 56 health zones across six provinces, is already the largest in Congo’s history. It has spread across Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Bas-Uele and Tshopo, including areas near the border with South Sudan. Cases have also been reported in neighboring Uganda.
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