The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a new outbreak of the Ebola virus, with 1,830 laboratory-confirmed cases and 648 deaths, according to the latest report published by the country's health authorities.
The epidemic, officially declared on May 15, is the 17th to affect the country and is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently neither a vaccine nor specific treatment.
The Ebola virus causes hemorrhagic fever and is considered one of the deadliest infectious diseases. Over the past five decades, it has caused more than 15 deaths in Africa.
The most severe Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was recorded in 2018–2020, when around 3,500 cases were confirmed and nearly 2,300 people lost their lives.
Health authorities continue efforts to curb the spread of the virus, while the lack of a vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo variant makes the situation even more challenging.
