More than 5,000 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak, making it the country's deadliest on record. Health ministry figures reported by the Associated Press put deaths at 5,026 among 10,351 confirmed cases, a case fatality rate of about 48.6%.

A record toll, and figures that differ by release

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus, was declared in May and became Congo's deadliest ever in August. It has now passed the previous national record of 2,299 deaths in the 2018–20 outbreak, and is the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak anywhere, behind only the 2014–16 West African epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people. Readers should note that ministry totals differ between releases: a Qatar News Agency dispatch on 1 November cited 5,340 deaths, so the toll should be read as more than 5,000 and still rising rather than as one settled figure. There is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, according to BBC reporting carried by ChannelOne News.

Where the virus is spreading

The outbreak has reached 67 health zones across eight of Congo's 26 provinces, with 50 zones still reporting active cases. The epicentre remains Ituri province in the north-east, a conflict zone where containment is harder, alongside North Kivu. Cases have also been confirmed beyond Congo, in Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda; Kenya had reported nine confirmed cases and two deaths by 23 October, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Africa CDC figures reported by the AP say about 80% of new infections are occurring outside known, monitored contact chains, which undermines standard tracing.

What health agencies say is needed

The World Health Organization's Africa office has called for a continued scale-up of control measures, greater access to affected areas and community outreach. Dr Patrick Otim, a WHO programme area manager, told the AP the milestone was tragic because it was not just a number. The US CDC has said that from 11:59pm Eastern time on 3 November, passengers boarding international flights to the United States must attest that they have not been in DR Congo during the previous 21 days. Further detail is in the AP account carried by The Curtain.