Goma: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is "growing exponentially" and poses a risk of spreading to neighboring countries unless containment measures are intensified, stated the UN's senior Ebola coordinator on Friday. This outbreak is already the deadliest in the country's history, with over 2,500 deaths reported from more than 5,000 infections.
According to Deutsche Welle, UN senior Ebola coordinator Julien Harneis informed journalists that the epidemic is now covering an area larger than France, with half of the 2,500 deaths occurring in the last 20 days alone. Harneis emphasized that the outbreak is spreading faster and wider than current Ebola response efforts can manage.
He underscored the need for increased aid funding and the expedited delivery of resources to remote areas to curb the virus's transmission. Harneis warned that without these measures, the epidemic could become more deadly and potentially spread to neighboring countries.
The current epidemic, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare type of Ebola with no approved vaccine or treatment, is the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak in history. Initial infections were detected earlier this year in the DRC's northeastern Ituri province, an area plagued by armed groups and poor health infrastructure. The virus has since spread to five other provinces and neighboring Uganda. Although Congolese authorities declared an Ebola outbreak on May 15, experts suggest the virus may have been circulating before that date.
This outbreak is expanding approximately three times faster than the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa, which was the world's deadliest on record, claiming around 11,000 lives. Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids and can cause symptoms such as fever, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some patients also experience internal or external bleeding.
In response, the World Health Organization has announced the immediate release of 70,000 doses of Merck's Ervebo Ebola vaccine to the DRC to help contain the epidemic. While the Ervebo vaccine is only approved for the Zaire strain of Ebola, early animal trial data suggests it may offer some protection against the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the current outbreak.
The WHO stated that the vaccine allocation includes 20,000 doses for a Phase 3 clinical trial to assess its impact on the Bundibugyo virus, along with 50,000 doses designated for frontline and health workers.