An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has killed 2,011 people out of 4,381 confirmed cases, according to Congolese health authorities.
The latest figures make the current outbreak the country’s second-deadliest, approaching the 2018–2020 outbreak, which claimed nearly 2,300 lives from about 3,500 recorded cases.
The outbreak, which has affected conflict-ridden areas in eastern and northeastern DRC, was officially declared on May 15, although health officials believe the virus had been circulating for several weeks before detection.
It is the DRC’s 17th Ebola outbreak and is already being described as the largest in the country’s history. Sania Nishtar, chief executive of the Gavi vaccine alliance, warned that it “could well become the largest outbreak ever.”
The case fatality rate of the current outbreak stands at approximately 45.9 per cent, according to Congolese health authorities.
The outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no specific approved vaccine.
On Friday, vaccine experts at the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended a full-scale human trial to determine whether Ervebo, the only approved Ebola vaccine, can provide cross-protection against the strain.
Ervebo has been proven safe and effective against the more common Zaire strain of the Ebola virus. WHO experts said preliminary evidence, particularly from animal studies, suggested that the vaccine could also provide some protection against the Bundibugyo strain.
Meanwhile, two potential vaccines specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain are in the early stages of human clinical trials, while a third candidate is being developed toward clinical testing.
Ebola is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or contaminated materials. It can cause severe haemorrhagic fever and has a high fatality rate.
The worsening outbreak has prompted renewed concerns over vaccine availability, disease surveillance and the ability of health authorities to contain transmission in conflict-affected areas of the DRC.AFP
