The Ebola outbreak spreading across the Democratic Republic of the Congo has surpassed 10,000 confirmed cases, with nearly 4,900 deaths reported across affected countries as the virus continues to spread beyond the country’s borders.
The outbreak has killed 4,887 people in Congo, where health officials have confirmed 10,060 cases as of Oct. 25, according to data from the Congolese Ministry of Health. More than 2,600 patients have recovered from the disease.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare variant of Ebola, is spreading faster than previous outbreaks and has become the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From 2014 to 2016, the West Africa Ebola Epidemic caused over 28,600 cases and roughly 11,310 deaths, primarily centered across Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
The outbreak was declared on May 15, but genetic sequencing suggests it may have begun months earlier, possibly in February. Congo has reported cases across eight provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tshopo.
The virus has also spread internationally. Kenya has reported nine confirmed cases and two deaths, while Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases, one probable case, and three deaths across confirmed and probable cases. Nigeria reported its first confirmed case linked to the outbreak on Oct. 20, and France reported one confirmed case in the summer.
In Kenya, the initial case involved a man who traveled from Congo through Uganda to Nairobi, where he was hospitalized and died in an isolation unit.
Subsequent infections occurred among relatives and healthcare workers who had close contact with him. All identified cases were in Nairobi, and Kenyan health officials have reported no community transmission.
The outbreak has presented significant challenges for health officials, including limited medical infrastructure, ongoing conflict, population displacement, cross-border travel, violence against healthcare workers, and misinformation, according to the CDC.
The Bundibugyo strain also complicates efforts to control the outbreak because there is no approved vaccine specifically for the virus. Vaccine trials are underway.
The CDC advises against all travel to Congo’s Ituri and North Kivu provinces and recommends avoiding nonessential travel to Haut-Uele and Tshopo provinces. Travelers to other parts of Congo and Uganda are advised to take enhanced precautions and monitor for Ebola symptoms for 21 days after leaving affected areas.
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The United States has temporarily restricted entry for travelers who have been in Congo within 21 days of their flight to the country.
No cases associated with the outbreak have been reported in the U.S., according to the CDC, which assesses the likelihood of Ebola spreading to the country as very low. The agency also says the risk of further transmission would remain low if a case were identified, citing the U.S. public health system and infection-control measures.