Ebola cases in DR Congo cross 8,000 as EU, US pledge further financial support

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 8,000, according to government data released on Monday and reported by Reuters.

The country's public health institute also said 3,901 people had died in the outbreak.

Caused by the Bundibugyo strain, the current Ebola epidemic has become the largest and the deadliest in the history of the DRC.

There is currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo species, but the World Health Organization (WHO) said earlier this month that trials for three potential vaccines against the strain should begin by October or November.