In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the number of Ebola cases has exceeded 4,000
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 4,053 confirmed cases of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola have been recorded since the outbreak was declared in mid-May. According to the latest report from the country’s Ministry of Health, 1,850 people have died, Al Jazeera English reports.
The outbreak has spread to 53 health zones in five provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Upper Uele, and Tshopo. The epicenter is Ituri Province, which accounts for 87% of all reported cases. Another 11% of cases were detected in the neighboring province of North Kivu.
This outbreak is considered the fastest-spreading in recorded history. Experts also believe that the actual number of cases may significantly exceed the official figures. The only outbreak with a higher number of recorded cases was the one in West Africa in 2014–2016: more than 28,000 cases were reported at that time in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
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Efforts to curb the spread of the disease are complicated by the ongoing armed conflict in the country, delays in detecting the infection, and a lack of accessible treatments and vaccines. Ebola is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids.
On Friday, experts from the World Health Organization recommended conducting a full-scale clinical trial of the Ervebo vaccine—the only licensed Ebola vaccine. It has previously demonstrated safety and efficacy against the more common Zaire strain. Data from animal studies suggest that the vaccine may also provide some protection against the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is currently no approved vaccine.
The WHO Technical Advisory Group on the Prioritization of Vaccine Candidates noted that a vaccine specifically targeting the Bundibugio strain remains the best option for combating the current outbreak. The group cautioned that Ervebo’s effectiveness against symptomatic disease and viral transmission may be limited, although the vaccine has the potential to reduce the risk of death. Two vaccines against Bundibugyo are in the early stages of human clinical trials, and another is being prepared for this phase. The Gavi Alliance has a stockpile of 500,000 doses of Ervebo and has announced that some of these doses will be provided for research in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
