DRC Ebola death toll rises to 2,516, cases surpass 5,290

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reported a grim toll from the ongoing Ebola outbreak in its eastern region, with the number of deaths climbing to 2,516 and confirmed cases reaching 5,290. The outbreak, which began on May 15, has now become the second deadliest and most widespread in recorded history.

According to the latest bulletin from the Congolese Ministry of Communication, data compiled up to August 19 indicates a current fatality rate of 47.6%. Among the confirmed cases, 837 patients are currently isolated or hospitalized, while 1,152 individuals have successfully recovered. The contact tracing rate stands at 82.9%.

The virus continues to spread across six Congolese provinces: Ituri, which is the epicenter, North Kivu, Haut-Uélé, Tshopo, Bas-Uélé, and South Kivu. Notably, South Kivu has reported no new confirmed cases for 79 consecutive days.

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Compassionate use vaccination with Ervebo has begun in Tshopo, with 2,000 doses deployed in priority areas.

In response to the escalating crisis, "compassionate use" vaccination with Ervebo has commenced in Tshopo province, with 2,000 doses allocated to priority areas. This measure is being taken due to the lack of approved vaccines or specific treatments for the Bundibugyo strain, which is causing the current outbreak. While Ervebo was originally developed for the Zaire strain, preliminary animal studies suggest potential efficacy against the less common Bundibugyo strain.

Furthermore, two other vaccines specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain are undergoing Phase 1 human trials and have been deemed safe by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, their full development is expected to take several months.

The current epidemic ranks as the second worst in history and the largest within the DRC, surpassing the 2018-2020 outbreak in the same region. It remains significantly smaller than the West Africa epidemic from 2014-2016, which caused 11,000 deaths and 28,000 infections. Nevertheless, the WHO has warned that the current outbreak is also the fastest-growing on record, potentially reaching the scale of the West Africa epidemic. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has cautioned about its potential to escalate further.

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Two other vaccines designed specifically against the Bundibugyo have shown to be safe in human Phase 1 trials.