DR Congo Ebola outbreak kills more than 2,000 as race for vaccine intensifies

The latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 2,000 people, according to health authorities, making it the country's fastest-growing outbreak on record. Case numbers have multiplied within weeks, straining an already overstretched public health system in the affected regions.

The World Health Organization and international health bodies have accelerated efforts to test an experimental vaccine against the hemorrhagic fever in the outbreak zone. Officials say active conflict and the presence of armed groups in the region have significantly hampered containment and response efforts, slowing the delivery of medical supplies and personnel.

Health teams are continuing vaccine distribution and contact tracing despite restricted access to some areas. Experts warn that shrinking international funding for health programs is making the outbreak response increasingly difficult, even as the death toll continues to climb by the day, with rural clinics reporting shortages of protective equipment for frontline medical workers.