UN says Ebola is killing one person every 30 minutes in DR Congo

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is now killing one person every 30 minutes, the UN humanitarian chief warned Friday, Aug. 14, calling for a rapid expansion of the international response.

“Ebola is winning in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” UN relief chief Tom Fletcher said, describing the outbreak as the fastest-growing on record.

More than 4,500 confirmed cases and at least 2,128 deaths have been recorded since the outbreak began in May, according to the UN.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment. WHO said by July 30 the disease had spread across five Congolese provinces and become the country’s largest recorded Ebola outbreak.

Fletcher called for expanded treatment capacity, stronger contact tracing and more teams conducting safe burials as the UN seeks additional international funding.