The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is said to shape itself into the deadliest outbreak of the disease ever recorded, as per World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Tedros issued a warning that the 2026 outbreak could “eclipse” the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic that claimed nearly 11,000 lives. The latest outbreak, officially declared on May 15, has already recorded up to 4,300 cases and over 2,000 deaths.
As per WHO officials, they hope to control the rapidly spreading disease within three months by implementing some highly-efficient precautionary measures, although this would not necessarily mean the outbreak has ended.
Virus spread started months ahead of identification
Health officials believe the outbreak began several months ahead of its detection.
WHO Africa director Dr Mohamed Janabi stated, “We are chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us."
Though evidence suggests transmission began in February, with early cases reportedly misdiagnosed as malaria or typhoid.
The outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, a rare strain that has previously caused only two known outbreaks, in 2007 and 2012.
It is pertinent to mention there is currently no approved vaccine or established therapeutic drug specifically targeting this strain.
Instability in eastern Congo is further complicating containment efforts. Health workers are reportedly reaching only around 30% of cases, as per Janabi.
Vaccine trials underway
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved human trials of a potential Bundibugyo vaccine developed by researchers at the University of Oxford.
The vaccine uses technology, which is similar to that behind the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
Notably, three other groups are also developing the targeted vaccines, although their candidates have yet to enter the clinical trials.
Meanwhile, the WHO is supporting a separate trial in Congo investigating whether two existing antiviral treatments can improve survival among patients infected with the virus.
