The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing the biggest Ebola epidemic in its history, with government data showing that cases have now exceeded 5,000. The public health institute has logged 5,021 cases, representing an unprecedented rate of spread that has infected and killed more people at a greater speed than any other outbreak in history.
This crisis is now the second-worst outbreak globally. There have been 2,476 confirmed deaths, giving the epidemic a case-fatality rate of 47.5 per cent.
Containment efforts are currently being outpaced in one of the country's remotest regions. These attempts to slow the deadly illness are being hampered by instability, community resistance, and weak health infrastructure.