DR Congo Ebola outbreak becomes deadliest with over 2,300 deaths

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history according to public health officials.

With more than 2,300 people reported to have died from the virus since the outbreak was declared in May.

As reported by the BBC on Monday, health authorities said 4,945 confirmed cases had been recorded, including 101 new cases in a single 24-hour period.

The virus has spread to six of the country’s 26 provinces, prompting concerns over the speed of transmission.

The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, a rare strain with only two previously known outbreaks.

Unlike the Zaire species responsible for several major Ebola epidemics, there is currently no approved vaccine specifically available for Bundibugyo Ebola.

Public health officials have described the outbreak as exceptionally fast-moving. The United Nations humanitarian chief has warned that the epidemic was killing approximately one person every 30 minutes at its peak.

The virus has largely remained within the Democratic Republic of Congo, although cases have been reported in neighbouring Uganda and a small number of cases have been detected in Europe.

Efforts are under way to contain the outbreak, with the World Health Organization aiming to bring transmission under control within three months.

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However, health officials have warned that controlling transmission does not necessarily mean the outbreak will end immediately.

Scientists are also working to develop vaccines against the Bundibugyo strain.

Britain’s medicines regulator has approved human trials of a vaccine developed by researchers at the University of Oxford, using technology similar to that employed in the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

Ebola is a rare but highly dangerous viral disease. Symptoms can include fever, headache and fatigue, followed by vomiting and diarrhoea in severe cases.

The virus is primarily transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person.

The latest outbreak is the 17th recorded Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the virus was first identified there 50 years ago.

Years of conflict, population movement and pressure on the country’s health system have made controlling outbreaks particularly difficult.

With cases continuing to rise rapidly, health authorities are increasing surveillance, treatment and infection-control measures as they work to slow the spread of the disease.