Kinshasa: The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in 2,325 fatalities since May, as per official data released on Sunday. This surpasses the death toll from the 2018-2020 outbreak, marking it as the deadliest in the nation's history.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Health Ministry's latest update indicates that confirmed cases have reached 4,945, with 2,325 deaths since the outbreak was declared in mid-May. The previous outbreak from 2018 to 2020 claimed 2,299 lives, primarily affecting the eastern provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, before it was declared over on June 25, 2020.

The current epidemic has spread across six provinces: Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Bas-Uele, and Tshopo. Ituri remains the epicenter of the outbreak, driven by the Bundibugyo virus strain, which is exhibiting sustained transmission rates.

UN Humanitarian Affairs chief Tom Fletcher stated last week that the outbreak is claiming one life every 30 minutes. The World Health Organization has noted that this outbreak is the fastest-growing on record. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo virus.