Congo Ebola outbreak on track to be deadliest

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is on track to surpass the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak, declared on May 15 but believed to have begun in February, has killed over 2,000 people out of more than 4,300 cases. It is caused by the rare Bundibugyo ebolavirus, which has no approved vaccines or treatments. The outbreak is spreading faster than containment efforts in a remote, conflict-affected region near the borders with South Sudan, Uganda, and Rwanda. Health workers are reaching only about 30% of cases, and misinformation and strikes are hampering response. The WHO expects the peak in six months under a moderate scenario, with a possible duration of nine to twelve months. Clinical trials for two treatments began last month in Democratic Republic of the Congo — Ituri Province, and two vaccines for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus are being tested in humans for the first time. The UK's United Kingdom — Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved human trials for a vaccine developed by the University of Oxford. A study in Nature Medicine suggests the outbreak began with a zoonotic spillover.