Congo's Ebola outbreak has surpassed 10,000 cases, marking the deadliest and fastest-growing outbreak in history. With 10,060 confirmed cases and 4,887 deaths, the epidemic has intensified as health workers face challenges including strikes over unpaid wages and attacks.
The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, was announced in mid-May and has since become the largest and deadliest in Congo. It surpasses the 2018-2020 epidemic and is the second-largest and second-deadliest on record behind the 2014-2016 West African outbreak.
Health officials are concerned about the potential spread to other African countries, with Kenya and Nigeria reporting cases. Uganda, which was Ebola-free in August, has implemented quarantine measures for travelers from Congo. The Swiss government is investigating how a Swiss diplomat's wife contracted the virus while in Uganda.
Uganda's health minister has ordered quarantines for citizens returning from Congo, while the World Health Organization has declared the country Ebola-free. The outbreak highlights the need for improved preparedness and response mechanisms across the continent.