The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is on track to become the deadliest in history, potentially surpassing the 2014-2016 epidemic that claimed at least 11,000 lives.
"At its current pace," the outbreak, declared on May 15, would "eclipse" the previous deadliest occurrence, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated. As of this week, the outbreak has recorded over 4,300 cases and more than 2,000 deaths. The WHO expressed hope to reverse the spread within three months, though this refers to controlling transmission rather than ending the outbreak entirely.
Health officials indicated that the outbreak likely began at least three months before its official declaration. Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Africa director, noted that health workers are currently struggling to keep pace with the virus, stating, "We are chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us." Research suggests the virus began spreading in February and was initially misdiagnosed as malaria or typhoid.
This outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, a strain responsible for only two previous outbreaks in 2007 and 2012. Crucially, there are no approved vaccines or recognized treatments for this specific species. The situation is further complicated by ongoing regional instability in eastern DR Congo, which hinders containment efforts. Dr. Janabi reported that health workers are only able to reach approximately 30% of cases due to these challenges.
Ebola is a severe viral illness characterized by symptoms such as fever, headache, and fatigue, appearing two to 21 days after infection. As the disease progresses, vomiting, diarrhea, and organ failure can occur. Transmission happens through direct contact with infected bodily fluids like blood or vomit.
In parallel with the containment efforts, progress is being made on therapeutic developments. The UK's medicines regulator has approved the first human trials for a Bundibugyo vaccine developed by a team at the University of Oxford, utilizing technology similar to the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Three other research groups are also developing distinct vaccines for this strain, though they have not yet entered clinical trials. Additionally, the WHO is supporting a separate clinical trial within the DR Congo to evaluate the efficacy of two existing antiviral therapies in improving survival rates.