Democratic Republic of Congo’s confirmed Ebola cases have surpassed 4,000 for the first time in the current outbreak, according to government data.
The outbreak, described as the fastest-spreading Ebola epidemic on record, has now become the second-largest recorded globally.
Congo’s public health institute said in its latest report that total infections had reached 4,053, including 1,850 deaths.
Health authorities said cases have been reported in five provinces across the country: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo.
Experts believe the virus had been circulating for months before the outbreak was officially declared on May 15, suggesting that the true number of infections could be significantly higher than the official figures.
A report published last month in the journal Science concluded that the outbreak likely began in January or earlier in Ituri province.
Researchers identified more than 500 suspected cases between mid-January and May 15, indicating that transmission may have been ongoing before detection efforts began.
Health experts said delayed detection, overstretched surveillance systems, armed conflict and limited access to vaccines and treatments for the virus strain involved have contributed to difficulties in containing the outbreak.
The current outbreak has spread faster than previous Ebola outbreaks, putting additional pressure on health authorities and response teams working to control transmission.
So far, only the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa remains larger, with more than 28,000 cases recorded across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The latest figures highlight the continuing challenges faced by Congo in managing one of the deadliest Ebola outbreaks in recent years.
