The Democratic Republic of Congo has now recorded over 2,011 deaths since the onset of the deadly Ebola outbreak this year, according to the latest official figures. Health authorities warn that this could soon surpass the most devastating epidemic in the country’s history. Government data released late Tuesday revealed a total of 4,381 confirmed cases across the affected regions.

While the first 1,000 deaths took nearly nine weeks to accumulate, the death toll doubled in just three weeks—a stark indication that the health crisis is outpacing containment and response efforts.

Healthcare teams are struggling to reach remote communities due to ongoing rebel violence, deteriorating road networks, and labor strikes triggered by unpaid wages, further complicating containment efforts.

Dr. Jean-Marie Akandabo, who oversees patient care at a local clinic in Ituri Province, described the situation as “deeply alarming” and urged immediate intensified action in the worst-hit areas.

This marks the 17th recorded outbreak of Ebola in the DRC—and already the largest in the nation’s history. Sania Nishtar, Chief Executive of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, cautioned that this outbreak “could become the deadliest ever recorded.”

The current case fatality rate stands at 45.9%, significantly higher than the 39.6% recorded during the West Africa Ebola epidemic between 2014 and 2016, which remains the deadliest outbreak on record with over 11,000 fatalities and nearly 28,000 cases.

Health emergency declared

Although the outbreak was officially declared on May 15, viral sequencing indicates the virus had been circulating since February. The government has since declared a national health emergency in response.

What sets this outbreak apart is the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccines or treatments currently exist. Clinical trials are now underway in Ituri Province, the outbreak’s epicenter in eastern DRC.

Humanitarian workers report that transmission continues to surge beyond the reach of monitoring systems. Many healthcare staff have gone on strike over unpaid salaries, and the World Health Organization (WHO) confirms that most new cases are emerging outside the network of tracked contacts—highlighting how far the virus has slipped beyond control.

“Without an effective vaccine, the only way to control this outbreak is through rapid identification and isolation of cases in secure treatment centers until recovery or, tragically, death,” explained Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease specialist at the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom. “In a conflict zone with poor infrastructure and disrupted communications, early detection becomes nearly impossible, and containment efforts fall behind.”

On Friday, WHO vaccine experts recommended launching large-scale human trials using the only currently licensed Ebola vaccine, Ervebo, to assess whether it provides cross-protection against the Bundibugyo strain currently spreading across eastern DRC—where no specific vaccine exists.

Ervebo has proven safe and effective against the Zaire strain of Ebola, the most common variant. Preliminary data, including animal studies, suggest it may offer some level of protection against the rare Bundibugyo strain driving the current outbreak.

Two potential vaccines targeting the Bundibugyo strain are in early human trial phases, while a third is in preclinical development.

Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, admitted officials are “racing to catch up with a virus that’s running ahead.”

Ebola spreads through bodily fluids and causes severe hemorrhagic fever. First identified near the Ebola River in 1976, the virus has since caused recurrent outbreaks across Central Africa, with the DRC bearing the brunt of most epidemics.