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2mo ago

DRC Ebola Outbreak Becomes Deadliest in Country’s History

Late detection, a lack of approved vaccines or treatments and local insecurity have let the Bundibugyo strain outpace the health response.

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Overview

  • On Monday authorities reported about 4,945 confirmed cases and roughly 2,325 deaths, a toll that makes this the deadliest Ebola outbreak recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • The epidemic is accelerating, with U.N. officials saying deaths rose sharply last week and the outbreak is doubling about every 20 days, raising strain on treatment capacity.
  • The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species, for which no licensed vaccines or therapies exist and only experimental countermeasures supported mainly by animal data are being evaluated.
  • Response operations are hampered by weak surveillance, late case detection, community resistance and insecurity, and the virus has infected many health workers, exposing gaps in infection control.
  • The surge is disrupting routine care and fueling other health emergencies; Uganda contained a brief spillover, and international agencies have sent extra funding, staff and food aid while warning more scaling up is needed.