DR Congo's Ebola outbreak becomes largest on record: WHO

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the  DR Congo has become the largest ever recorded in the country, surpassing the 2018-2020 epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday.

According to the WHO's latest disease outbreak report, the DRC had recorded 3,605 confirmed Ebola cases caused by the Bundibugyo virus as of Thursday, including 1,587 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of 44 percent.

The previous largest outbreak, which affected eastern DRC between 2018 and 2020, recorded 3,317 confirmed cases.

Initially limited to the Mongbwalu health zone in Ituri province, the current outbreak has spread over the past two months to 49 health zones across five provinces �" Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo.

The WHO said 151 health workers have been infected during the outbreak, with 44 of them dying, underscoring continuing gaps in infection prevention and control at healthcare facilities.

The UN health agency warned that insecurity, population displacement, frequent movement of people and cross-border travel are hampering surveillance and response efforts, increasing the risk of further transmission.

The outbreak is unfolding in conflict-affected areas where access to healthcare, clean water, food and shelter remains limited. Attacks on health facilities have also disrupted response operations and increased the risk of undetected spread.

Describing the risk within the DRC as "very high," the WHO called for a major expansion of disease surveillance, testing, clinical care, infection prevention, community engagement and logistical support to contain the outbreak.