Race to find Ebola vaccine as DR Congo outbreak kills more than 2,000

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently experiencing the deadliest Ebola outbreak on record, with the virus killing a victim every 30 minutes, according to Tom Fletcher, a top UN humanitarian official. The outbreak, which began on May 15, has already claimed at least 2,128 lives out of over 4,500 confirmed cases. Fletcher emphasized the urgency of the situation, warning that the virus is "winning" in the DRC and urging for increased international action.

The epidemic has spread to six provinces within DRC and Uganda, with cases also reported near the border with South Sudan. So far, countries have contributed nearly $300 million to combat the outbreak. Fletcher allocated an additional $30.5 million from an emergency UN fund, bringing the total support to $24 million already pledged.

More than 20 additional staff members have been deployed to the Ebola frontlines, but Fletcher stressed the need for double the number of teams for safe and dignified burials, triple the treatment capacity, and improved contact tracing. He also highlighted the critical need to address the region's urgent requirements for water, hygiene, healthcare, and other essential services.

The Bundibugyo strain responsible for this outbreak has no known licensed treatment or vaccine, further complicating efforts to contain the virus. This 17th Ebola outbreak in Africa, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, has claimed over 15,000 lives across the continent in the past 50 years, with the deadliest prior outbreak occurring from 2018 to 2020, which resulted in nearly 2,300 deaths.