Ebola outbreak in DR Congo becomes deadliest in its history

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in its history, with 2,325 people losing their lives since it was declared on May 15, surpassing the death toll of the 2018-2020 outbreak. The epidemic is spreading rapidly, killing someone every 30 minutes, according to UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher.

While there is no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo species responsible for the current outbreak, several are in development, including one based on technology used in the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

As of August 12, 4,945 confirmed cases had been recorded in Congo, including 101 in the previous 24 hours. Only a small number of cases have been reported outside the country, with 20 in neighboring Uganda, two in Germany, and one in France. The virus has spread to six of Congo's 26 provinces, with the World Health Organization describing the transmission rate as "exceptional."

The outbreak, which may have been spreading undetected since February, is the 17th to have emerged in Congo since Ebola was discovered 50 years ago. The rapid spread can be attributed to years of conflict and a highly mobile population. The WHO hopes to reverse the spread of the disease within three months, but this will mean controlling transmission and not ending the outbreak entirely.

Ebola is a rare but deadly viral disease, with symptoms similar to the flu or malaria, such as fever, headache, and tiredness, which can progress to vomiting, diarrhea, and organ failure as the disease advances. Contact with infected bodily fluids, like blood or vomit, is the primary mode of transmission. The UK's medicines regulator, the MHRA, has approved the first human trials of a vaccine for Bundibugyo, developed by the University of Oxford using the same technology as the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.