The Ebola outbreak currently spreading through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is the largest the country has ever faced, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday. 

Infections are spreading despite months of response efforts, according to the agency. The current outbreak, DR Congo’s 17th, has reportedly surpassed the country’s 2018-2020 Ebola epidemic to become the largest on record. 

The currently untreatable Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no approved vaccines, was initially detected in the Mongbwalu health zone in Ituri Province, but has spread across five provinces in two months and now affects 49 health zones, the agency noted. The affected provinces are Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo.  

The outbreak is “intensifying, with sustained transmission and continued increases in reported cases and deaths,” the WHO stated. 

During epidemiological week 30, the country recorded a weekly record of 567 new cases and 296 deaths, the highest figures since the outbreak began. 

The latest Congolese Ministry of Health data put the number of confirmed cases at 3,674, up from the 3,605 reported by the WHO as of July 30. The death toll has climbed to 1,621, while 760 patients remain in isolation or are hospitalized and 666 people have recovered. The overall case fatality rate stands at 44.1%.  

The agency said insecurity, mass displacement, population movements, and cross-border travel are hampering containment efforts and raising the risk of further spread. Despite those challenges, the Congolese Health Ministry said surveillance systems and laboratory testing remain operational, while contact tracing has improved, although it remains below target. The nationwide contact follow-up rate currently stands at 78%. 

WHO said a substantial scaling up of the response involving the Congolese authorities, the UN agency, and international partners will be needed to bring the outbreak under control. 

Elsewhere in the region, Uganda declared its Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak over on July 28 after going 42 days without recording a locally transmitted case. However, WHO warned that the country remains at risk of imported infections as transmission continues in neighboring DR Congo.