WHO: Congo Ebola Outbreak Now Second Largest in History

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday (12/8) that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become the second largest in recorded history after confirmed cases rose to 4,449 with 2,061 deaths.

“This is already the second largest Ebola outbreak in history, and it is spreading faster than any previous Ebola outbreak. At the current rate, it is expected to surpass the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014 to 2016,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press briefing in Geneva.

The latest data released on Wednesday by DRC public health authorities shows that the overall case fatality rate stands at 46.3 percent. A total of 716 patients remain in isolation or treatment in hospitals, while 886 people have recovered.

Tedros noted that the outbreak had begun spreading well before it was detected, meaning response efforts are still struggling to catch up.

“The outbreak started spreading much earlier. It is still far ahead of us, and we are working to catch up with it,” the WHO director-general said.

The WHO revealed that around 90 percent of all confirmed cases and 80 percent of deaths were reported in Ituri Province, where sustained transmission continues to occur.

Tedros said most deaths are still occurring in the community rather than in treatment centres, while many cases are being detected outside known contact lists. This indicates that chains of transmission remain unidentified.

“As long as we do not know and break every chain of transmission, we will not be able to stop this outbreak,” he said.

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, was announced by the DRC government on 15 May.

WHO Health Emergencies Programme Executive Director Chikwe Ihekweazu said investigation results indicate the virus had likely been circulating for two to three months before the outbreak was officially detected, although the exact timing of the start of transmission remains under investigation.