Ebola outbreak on track to be deadliest ever, WHO chief says

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is poised to become the deadliest in history, according to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO). The current outbreak, which began in May, has already resulted in over 4,300 cases and more than 2,000 deaths. WHO officials hope to curb the spread of the disease within three months, but warn that this does not necessarily mean the outbreak will end. The epidemic was likely active for at least three months before it was officially declared.

The virus responsible for this outbreak is the rare Bundibugyo species, which has only caused two known outbreaks in the past. Unlike other Ebola strains, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for Bundibugyo. The ongoing instability in the region exacerbates the challenge of controlling the disease, as health workers can only reach approximately 30% of the cases.

Symptoms of Ebola resemble those of the flu or malaria, with fever, headache, and tiredness appearing suddenly. As the disease progresses, vomiting and diarrhea can develop, leading to organ failure. The virus spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids like blood or vomit.

In response to the outbreak, the UK's medicines regulator, the MHRA, has approved the first human trials of a vaccine for Bundibugyo, developed by a team from the University of Oxford. Three other groups are also working on different vaccines, though they have not yet entered clinical trials. The WHO is also funding a separate clinical trial in Congo to test the effectiveness of two existing antiviral therapies in improving survival rates.