Overview
- The outbreak has grown fastest in eastern provinces and now numbers roughly 3,800–3,900 confirmed cases with about 1,700–1,750 deaths, making it the largest Ebola epidemic recorded in the country.
- Multiple clinical trials have started in early August for candidate drugs and prophylaxis in DRC treatment centers while phase‑1 RNA vaccine studies run by Oxford/SII and Moderna have begun testing volunteers in the UK/India and Canada.
- There is no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral for the Bundibugyo Ebola variant and global health officials say even successful candidates will take months to prove safe, effective, and reach affected communities.
- Contact tracing is failing to capture large shares of exposures, with many infections outside known chains, and response teams face armed insecurity, population displacement, and rainy‑season logistics that limit isolation and care.
- The United States has pledged an additional $242 million, raising direct U.S. support to over $500 million, but aid agencies warn funding and trained staff gaps must close quickly to protect vulnerable families and prevent wider spread.