WHO urges Ervebo vaccine trial in DR Congo Ebola outbreak

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo began at least three months prior to its official declaration, indicating that health authorities are still struggling to keep up with the situation. Since May 15, when the outbreak was declared, over 1,900 people have died from the Ebola virus, making it the second-worst outbreak to date.

The virus causing this outbreak is the Bundibugyo species, and it is currently spreading in the eastern part of DR Congo, a region plagued by insecurity that has hindered control efforts. WHO Africa director Dr Mohamed Janabi emphasized that they are "chasing the virus, the virus is ahead of us" during a news conference in Bunia, the central city of the outbreak.

Research indicates that the virus started spreading in February, but was initially misdiagnosed as malaria or typhoid. According to Janabi, due to insecurity, health workers are only able to reach around 30% of the cases, with the remaining individuals succumbing to the virus at home. Traditional burial practices and suspicion towards health authorities in some communities have further complicated the situation.

However, there are now several dedicated treatment centers in the eastern DR Congo, and people are being diagnosed more swiftly. To date, there have been 4,294 confirmed cases and 1,960 deaths, as reported by DR Congo's health ministry.

The largest recorded Ebola outbreak occurred between 2014 and 2016 in West Africa, claiming the lives of 11,325 people. Despite the challenges faced by health workers in DR Congo, they are employing speed, money, and compassion in their treatment efforts.