Over 700 dead in Ebola outbreak in DR Congo: First-ever human trial of Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine - when will it be ready?
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has resulted in over 700 deaths, with the rare Bundibugyo strain complicating containment efforts. Scientists at the University of Oxford have launched the first human trial for a vaccine targeting this specific strain.
Why it matters
The emergence of a vaccine for a previously untreatable Ebola strain represents a critical development in global public health and pandemic preparedness.
More than 700 people have died in the latest Ebola outbreak tearing through the Democratic Republic of the Congo — the worst the country has ever seen. Health officials confirmed over 1,900 cases as the Bundibugyo strain, a version of the virus that’s rarely seen, pushes across eastern Congo, even reaching Uganda. The numbers are concerning, and fighting the outbreak has been a nightmare. There’s no approved vaccine for this particular Ebola strain and no specific treatment, which leaves people on the ground grasping for tools that don’t really exist.Back in May, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global health emergency. Still, it’s been impossible to get ahead of the virus. War, rumors, attacks on clinics, even strikes by unpaid health workers — all of it is making the situation even worse.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in