The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported 1,031 confirmed Ebola deaths, marking the fastest‑spreading outbreak in history. Director‑general Jean Kaseya of Africa’s Centres for Disease Control warned that the surge could become the worst recorded if immediate action fails.

The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, lacks approved vaccines or treatments. Kaseya cited a dire shortage of medicine, funding and protection for health workers, noting that many deaths are preventable. WHO reports an additional two deaths in neighbouring Uganda, where travel restrictions remain in place despite the country being disease‑free for over a month.

As of Monday, the DRC’s health ministry confirmed 2,473 cases, with 737 patients isolated. The outbreak બનાવ, declared on May 15 after deaths in Ituri, has outpaced the 2013‑2016 West African epidemic, reaching 1,000 deaths in under 10 weeks.

Kaseya urged global leaders to lift travel bans and increase support, warning that failure to intervene today could culminate in the most devastating Ebola crisis ever documented.