The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo now exceeds 5,000, government data showed late Tuesday, as health officials warn that response efforts are failing to contain the deadly disease. The 17th Ebola epidemic in Congo became the largest in the country’s history in terms of number of cases in late July and over the weekend the death toll reached 2,378, the public health institute said, surpassing the previous worst outbreak in 2018-2020. Read moreThe Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is now the deadliest ever recorded The institute has so far recorded 5,021 cases, according to its latest situation report, making it the second worst outbreak globally, only behind the 2014 to 2016 epidemic in West Africa, in both infections and deaths. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which has no approved vaccines or treatments. It has gained momentum since it was declared on May 15, as weak health infrastructure, community resistance, instability and protests by response workers hamper efforts to identify and respond to cases. (FRANCE 24 with Reuters)