WHO warns current Ebola outbreak in DRC could become the worst in history

The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is progressing at a pace that could make it the worst in history, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak has already resulted in approximately 4,400 cases and over 2,000 deaths, positioning it as the second-worst recorded epidemic and advancing more rapidly than any previous outbreak.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that at the current rate, the epidemic could surpass the scale of the West Africa outbreak from 2014 to 2016, which caused around 28,000 infections and 11,000 deaths. He acknowledged that the virus is "a great advantage" and remains ahead of containment efforts. A significant concern is the continued high number of deaths occurring outside of treatment centers and in areas where new contacts have not been previously identified.

Tedros emphasized that these unknown transmission chains hinder containment efforts. He identified contact tracing as a top priority, aiming to ensure all suspected cases receive attention and to reach the necessary 95% interruption rate for transmission, though the current rate stands at 80%. Additionally, he highlighted the need to recruit and train thousands more healthcare workers to support the response.

On a more positive note, Tedros mentioned that two vaccines specifically targeting the Bundibugyo variant of Ebola, responsible for the current outbreak, are in Phase 1 human trials and have shown to be safe. Experts suggest their development could take several months. Furthermore, studies in animals indicate that the Ervebo vaccine, primarily used for the Zaire variant, might also be effective against the Bundibugyo variant. Consequently, the WHO recommended initiating human trials for Ervebo in the DRC as soon as possible.