The deadliest and fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record has claimed more than 1,000 lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where health authorities are struggling to contain a strain of the virus that has no approved vaccine or treatment.
The latest update from Congo's public health institute reported 2,536 confirmed infections and 1,033 deaths since the outbreak was declared on May 15. At least 738 patients remain hospitalized or in isolation as health workers race to curb transmission across the country's east.
Unlike previous Ebola emergencies, the current epidemic is driven by the Bundibugyo strain, a rare variant for which no licensed vaccine or proven treatment exists. The absence of medical countermeasures has made the outbreak especially difficult to control.
Most infections are concentrated in the remote eastern province of Ituri, which accounts for nearly 90% of confirmed cases. However, the virus has spread to five provinces, including the major city of Kisangani, and crossed into neighboring Uganda.
Outbreak remains dangerous
