The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has officially outdone itself, becoming the deadliest in the country's history with at least 2,325 people killed, according to government data. That's a somber record, surpassing the 2018-20 outbreak's toll.

Congo's public health institute reported on Sunday that confirmed cases have risen to 4,945, with 101 new cases detected in the previous 24 hours. Because nothing says progress like a fresh batch of cases.

For context, the West African outbreak of 2014-16 was no slouch either, with 28,616 cases and 11,310 deaths across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO). Just to keep the numbers in perspective.

On Friday, the UN delivered a cheerful update: "Ebola is winning in the Democratic Republic of the Congo," noting the epidemic is now killing one person every 30 minutes. A grim pace, indeed.

Six of DRC's 26 provinces are now affected, mainly along the north-eastern border. More than 3,400 cases have been recorded in Ituri province, where the outbreak first reared its ugly head.

The latest numbers make this the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in known history - an achievement no one was aiming for.

Adding to the fun, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for the rare Bundibugyo strain responsible for this surge. Because why make things easy?

Thomas Parisch, a public health specialist with Médecins Sans Frontières, noted: "Normally, as an outbreak progresses, the case fatality ratio should fall as contact tracing improves and patients are identified and treated earlier. Instead, we're still seeing many cases detected very late, when treatment is less likely to succeed, with many identified only after they die in the community." So, not exactly the textbook trajectory.

Uganda has reported at least 20 cases, all in Kampala, the capital.

In May, the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. A title nobody wanted.

The virus spreads from wild animals to humans, then between humans via direct contact with blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people, and through contaminated surfaces like bedding or clothing. And if you're wondering about symptoms, the WHO lists fever, fatigue, malaise, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, rash, and impaired kidney and liver function. Sounds delightful.