Oxford University announced a volunteer received the first dose of a rapidly developed vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, responsible for over 1,000 deaths in DRC and Uganda. The ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine, using AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine technology, went from concept to clinic in eight weeks.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has caused nearly 1,000 deaths since May, with 2,473 cases recorded. The Bundibugyo strain is spreading faster than any previous outbreak, prompting urgent calls for action from health officials as cases also appear in neighboring Uganda.
The latest Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases and 254 deaths since May 15. The rare Bundibugyo strain lacks approved treatments, and contact-tracing coverage is only 55%, hindering containment efforts.
Uganda has confirmed two new Ebola cases, bringing the total to seven. The new cases are health workers in Kampala. The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no vaccine. The WHO has declared it a public health emergency of international concern.
WHO declared a public health emergency over Ebola, warning of fast-spreading diseases. India advised citizens to avoid travel to DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan due to outbreaks, with 867 cases and 204 deaths reported in Congo.
Uganda confirmed three new Ebola cases, bringing the total to five. The new cases include a driver and a health worker exposed to the first patient, and a woman from the DRC. Contact tracing is intensified as WHO warns of high risk in Congo.
The WHO has declared the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. Officials warn that the strain has no approved vaccine or treatment, complicating efforts to contain its spread.
The rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain outbreak in Congo and Uganda highlights global disease surveillance weaknesses, even after COVID-19. Experts warn of challenges due to the lack of a strain-specific vaccine and fragile healthcare systems, emphasizing the need for rapid detection and international cooperation.
Global health leaders are considering experimental vaccines and medicines for the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, which has seen over 500 suspected cases and 130 deaths. The WHO declared a public health emergency, citing the outbreak's speed and scale, exacerbated by conflict and weak infrastructure.
The WHO has declared the haemorrhagic fever outbreak an international health emergency. Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba reported 131 deaths and 513 suspected cases, noting that not all deaths are confirmed to be linked to Ebola.
