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Ebola Outbreak Shows Progress, But WHO Warns: Not Over Yet
16 Sep
Summary
- WHO sees encouraging signs of containment in Congo's Ebola epidemic.
- Over 7,000 confirmed Ebola cases reported as of September 11.
- New trials for Ebola vaccines, including Moderna's, are set to begin.
The World Health Organization has noted encouraging signs that containment measures for the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo are advancing. While transmission rates are decreasing in the hardest-hit regions of Ituri province, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned that the outbreak is "far from over."
As of September 11, Congo had recorded more than 7,000 confirmed Ebola cases. The epidemic, the second deadliest on record, has now affected a seventh province, raising concerns about population mobility. Efforts in surveillance and contact tracing have intensified.
Vaccination campaigns are underway, with over 3,000 healthcare workers receiving Merck's Ervebo. However, its effectiveness against the current Bundibugyo virus strain is unknown. An observational study is expected shortly to assess Ervebo's efficacy, followed by a mid-to-late-stage trial involving new vaccine candidates from Moderna and the University of Oxford.
