Ebola toll in Congo tops 3,000 as outbreak accelerates to record pace

Congo’s Ebola outbreak has killed more than 3,000 people out of 6,186 confirmed cases, marking the fastest-spreading and deadliest outbreak on record. The virus has reached six provinces amid conflict, attacks on health workers, and weak health infrastructure, with health workers striking for pay. The WHO warns the outbreak could surpass West Africa’s 2014–16 toll, while Africa CDC says the true burden may be several times higher than confirmed cases due to surveillance gaps. Vaccination efforts using the Ervebo vaccine are expanding to frontline workers in Kisangani, though there is no vaccine or approved treatment for the Bundibugyo strain driving this outbreak; vaccines are in development.