The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed at least 2,011 lives this year, authorities confirmed, warning that the outbreak could become the deadliest in the nation’s history. Government data released overnight indicated 4,381 confirmed cases nationwide.

While the first 1,000 deaths took nearly nine weeks to accumulate, the death toll doubled in just three weeks—a stark indicator of how rapidly the health crisis is outpacing containment efforts.

Officials cite severe logistical hurdles as the primary obstacle: rebel violence, deteriorating road networks, and healthcare staff strikes over unpaid wages have severely hampered the delivery of critical medical supplies to remote communities.

Dr. Jean-Marie Akandabo, treating patients in Ituri Province, described the situation as “alarmingly dire”, urging immediate intensification of response efforts in affected areas.

This marks the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in the DRC, already the largest in the country’s history. “This could well become the most devastating outbreak ever recorded,” cautioned Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the global vaccine alliance.

With a current case fatality rate of 45.9%, the outbreak far exceeds the 39.6% mortality rate observed during the 2014–2016 West African Ebola epidemic—the deadliest in history, which resulted in over 11,000 deaths from 28,000 cases.

State of emergency declared

Officially declared on May 15, genomic sequencing reveals the outbreak likely began as early as February. The government has since declared a national health emergency in response.

Unlike previous outbreaks, this one involves the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain, for which no approved vaccines or treatments exist. Clinical trials for potential vaccines have commenced in Ituri Province, the outbreak’s epicenter in eastern Congo.

Humanitarian workers report that the epidemic continues to outpace response efforts across the five eastern provinces. Strikes by healthcare personnel protesting unpaid wages have further crippled containment, while the World Health Organization (WHO) notes that most new cases are occurring outside monitored contact chains, indicating uncontrolled community transmission.

“Without an effective vaccine, controlling this outbreak hinges on early case identification and isolation in secure facilities until recovery or, tragically, death,” explained Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, UK. “In remote conflict zones with disrupted communications, routine surveillance becomes nearly impossible—and early case detection to prevent spread may fail entirely.”

On Friday, WHO vaccine experts recommended launching large-scale human trials for the only currently licensed Ebola vaccine, Ervebo, to assess whether it provides cross-protection against the Bundibugyo strain currently circulating in the DRC, for which no specific vaccine exists.

Ervebo has proven safe and effective against the more common Zaire Ebola strain, and preliminary data—including animal trials—suggest it may offer some protection against the rare Bundibugyo variant fueling the current outbreak.

Two experimental vaccines targeting the Bundibugyo strain are in early human trial phases, while a third candidate is under development for initial testing.

Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, warned that authorities “are chasing the virus, which has a head start”.

Ebola spreads through contact with bodily fluids and triggers severe hemorrhagic fever. First identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the DRC, this virus remains one of the deadliest known to humanity.