More than 5,000 deaths and 10,000 infections due to Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in over 5,000 deaths and more than 10,000 infections in less than six months. This outbreak is the second largest in history, surpassed only by the epidemic from 2014 to 2016. The rare Bundibugyo variant of the virus is responsible, and there are currently no vaccines or treatments available. Most cases and deaths have been reported in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces, with concerns about a wider outbreak due to difficulties in contact tracing. New cases have also been reported in Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda, although the weekly infection rate has stabilized recently.