Kinshasa: The total number of Ebola infections in Congo has surpassed 4,000. The National Institute of Public Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced that the cumulative number of confirmed Ebola cases has exceeded 4,000 in the current outbreak. The latest total stands at 4,053 cases, with 1,850 deaths, spread across five provinces: Ituri, North Kifu, South Kifu, Oteuele, and Chopo.

According to Thai News Agency, this is considered the second largest and fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak ever recorded. A study published last month in the journal Science suggests that this outbreak in Congo likely began as early as January or earlier in the Ituri province. More than 500 suspected cases were reported before the official declaration of the outbreak on May 15. Experts believe the actual number may be significantly higher than reported due to delays in detection, overwhelmed surveillance systems, military conflict, and a shortage of vaccines and treatments. These challenges have contributed to the outbreak spreading beyond control.

The only larger Ebola outbreak was the one in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, which infected more than 28,000 people across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.