Congo-Kinshasa: Race to Find Ebola Vaccine As DR Congo Outbreak Kills More Than 2,000

What the report says

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo say the country’s latest Ebola outbreak has caused more than 2,000 deaths, with reported fatalities at 2,011 out of 4,381 confirmed cases. The report, published by Radio France Internationale and distributed by AllAfrica, says the outbreak was declared on 15 May and has spread across eastern and northeastern provinces, including Ituri and North Kivu. Officials say the outbreak is the country’s 17th Ebola surge and may be the largest in its history.

The article says the response has been complicated by insecurity, armed groups and mistrust in affected communities, where many people are said to be dying at home rather than reaching treatment centers. Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said authorities still expect to bring the spread under control within three months, while WHO’s Africa regional director warned that case detection remains limited. Congolese virologist Jean-Jacques Muyembe also criticized the pace and coordination of the response.

At the same time, international health partners are pushing vaccine research. WHO experts have recommended a human trial of the approved Ervebo vaccine to see whether it may also protect against the Bundibugyo strain involved in the current outbreak, for which no specific vaccine exists. Gavi said doses from its stockpile will be used in the trials, and the United States has added funding to the response. The situation matters because Ebola spreads through bodily fluids, can be highly lethal, and remains a major public health threat in Africa.