What is Ebola and why is stopping the latest outbreak so difficult?

What the report says

BBC Africa reports that the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the country’s deadliest on record among its 17 outbreaks, and UN experts have described its growth as unusually fast. The outbreak is centered in Ituri province in the east, with confirmed spread to North Kivu and South Kivu, and the paper says the situation is complicated by ongoing conflict and population movement across porous borders.

The article explains that this outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo Ebola, a rarer strain that had not been seen for more than a decade. Because the species is uncommon, routine tests initially missed it, and no vaccine is yet approved specifically for this form of the virus. BBC Africa notes that scientists in the UK and elsewhere are testing candidate vaccines, while Congolese authorities and the World Health Organization are also studying whether existing vaccines and antiviral medicines may help.

BBC Africa says the first known case was a nurse in April, with researchers suggesting the virus may have been spreading undetected earlier. Health officials have since expanded testing, contact tracing and treatment centers, while banning mass gatherings in affected provinces and in Kinshasa. The story also highlights the difficulty of response in a conflict zone, where health workers must operate amid displacement and insecurity.

The report adds general context about Ebola: it spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids, can cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea and organ failure, and in some cases bleeding. It also notes that older outbreaks were usually contained in remote areas, but urban growth and population movement now make control harder.