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Ebola Outbreak Becomes Deadliest in DR Congo History
17 Aug
Summary
- Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is now the deadliest in its history.
- The virus has killed 2,325 people since May 15.
- No approved vaccine exists for the Bundibugyo species.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing its deadliest Ebola outbreak on record, with public health officials reporting 2,325 fatalities since the epidemic was declared on May 15. This surpasses the death toll of the 2018-2020 outbreak. The virus has spread exceptionally rapidly, reaching six of the country's 26 provinces. It took less than three months to reach 2,000 deaths, a stark contrast to the nearly five months it took the West African outbreak of 2014-2016 to reach 1,000 fatalities.
Despite the severity, no approved vaccine currently exists for the Bundibugyo species responsible for this epidemic. However, several vaccines are in development, including one utilizing technology similar to the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. The UK's medicines regulator has permitted human trials for a Bundibugyo vaccine developed by the University of Oxford. The World Health Organization hopes to reverse the spread within three months by controlling transmission, though not necessarily ending the outbreak entirely.
