Ebola death toll tops 5,300 as DRC leads Africa outbreak
The Bundibugyo strain has infected over 10,000 people across three countries, with more than half of those infected dying.
By Olivia Miller ·
The latest Ebola outbreak in Africa has claimed the lives of 5,376 people, according to data released by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday. The Democratic Republic of the Congo remains the epicenter of the crisis, having declared its 17th and largest outbreak in mid-May. Of the total deaths, 5,372 occurred in the DRC, while Kenya and Uganda each recorded two fatalities.
The Bundibugyo strain of the virus has infected approximately 10,444 individuals across the DRC, Uganda, and Kenya. This specific strain carries a death rate exceeding 50 percent. The virus has crossed international borders several times in recent months, spreading from the DRC to neighboring regions and distant locations.
Uganda reported 20 cases, almost all involving travelers from the DRC, before being declared Ebola-free in August. Kenya recorded its first confirmed cases in October, with nine infections and two deaths. Nigeria’s health authorities tested two suspected cases in the northeast region this month, confirming both samples were negative. Abuja also reported its first imported case in October, the first in more than a decade, with no recorded deaths so far.
France recorded a single case in July involving a health worker returning from the DRC. No approved treatments or vaccines currently exist for the rare Bundibugyo strain. However, clinical trials have recently begun using the Ervebo vaccine, which has shown effectiveness against the more common Zaire strain.
The outbreak represents the largest in the DRC’s history, surpassing previous records. The high mortality rate underscores the severity of the Bundibugyo variant. Health officials continue to monitor cross-border movements to prevent further spread to other nations in the region.
