DRC Ebola outbreak deadliest on record, vaccine arrives

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become the deadliest in the country's history, with government data showing 2,642 deaths from 5,515 confirmed cases as of late August Source: AP News. The outbreak, declared on May 15, is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccine or treatment Source: Al Jazeera. It is spreading faster than any previous Ebola epidemic, with the UN warning it is "growing exponentially" and covering an area "bigger than France" Source: DW News.

Key figures

• Case fatality rate has climbed to nearly 48%, up from about 20% in early June Source: Al Jazeera.
• The outbreak has recorded ten times more cases and seven times more deaths at this stage than the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak Source: AP News.
• Contact tracing has improved to over 85%, but only 16% of expected contacts have been traced Source: AP News.

Vaccine response

On Friday, the DRC received 16,250 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, the first of 70,000 pledged by the WHO and partners Source: AP News. The vaccine is approved for the Zaire strain, but its effectiveness against Bundibugyo is uncertain; early data suggest it may offer some protection Source: Al Jazeera. Of the 70,000 doses, 20,000 will be used in a Phase 3 clinical trial Source: DW News.

Challenges and outlook

Efforts are hampered by armed conflict, displacement, and attacks on health workers Source: AP News. About 160 health workers have been infected, and 45 have died Source: Al Jazeera. While WHO officials say the outbreak can be controlled within three months if resources are scaled up Source: CNA, others warn it is "far from being under control" Source: SCMP. Uganda has interrupted transmission, offering hope Source: The Guardian.