The World Health Organization has announced that the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the third largest recorded outbreak of the disease globally, after 2,003 cases and 796 deaths were registered in just two months, making it the fastest-spreading outbreak compared to previous epidemics.
The organization explained that more than 80% of new infections in Ituri province are being detected outside contact-tracing lists, while the majority of deaths are occurring within local communities far from treatment centres, a factor that is complicating efforts to contain the epidemic.
It noted that the health response has seen an expansion in testing and treatment capacities, alongside the launch of clinical trials for new vaccines and treatments targeting the "Bondibogyo" strain, in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus and reduce mortality rates.