Ebola surges past 3,200 cases in DRC as Oxford begins first vaccine trial

What the report says

The Independent Uganda, citing agencies and RFI, reported on July 29 that the Democratic Republic of Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak has exceeded 3,200 confirmed cases, with the death toll reaching 1,405. Officials said on July 26 that infections had risen by about 1,000 in 10 days. The outbreak, declared on May 15, is DRC’s 17th and is centred in the country’s conflict-affected east.

According to the report, cases have been confirmed in five provinces, with nearly 90% recorded in Ituri, which borders Uganda and South Sudan. Authorities said wider detection and testing partly explain the increased case count. The World Health Organization’s emergencies chief was cited as saying on July 15 that actual infections in DRC could be far higher than the official figures. Health worker strikes over unpaid wages have also disrupted response work in some hospitals.

Uganda has recorded 20 cases, all diagnosed in Kampala, with two deaths and no reported community spread, The Independent said. Its last reported case, confirmed on June 21, was linked to travel from DRC, and the last patient left hospital on July 16.

The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which the article says there is no approved vaccine or treatment. Oxford University has begun testing an experimental vaccine targeting that strain, with the first volunteer group vaccinated. Other vaccine candidates and two possible treatments are also being developed. The development matters because Ebola spreads through bodily fluids, can cause severe haemorrhagic fever, and outbreaks in unstable border regions can be difficult to contain.