HealthThe epidemic, the world's second-largest, has been described as the ⁠fastest-spreading on record. (Reuters)Democratic Republic ‌of Congo's confirmed Ebola cases have risen above 4,000 for the first time in the current outbreak, government data showed. The epidemic, the world's second-largest, has been described as the ⁠fastest-spreading on record. Researchers identified more than 500 suspected cases between mid-January ⁠and May 15. So far only West Africa's 2014-16 outbreak has been bigger, with over 28,000 cases recorded across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.