The World Health Organization has emphasized the need for continued control measures as Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo surpass the 10,000 mark. Data from the Congolese Ministry of Health indicated there were 10,141 cases and nearly 5,000 deaths as of Monday.
The current outbreak is the 17th in the country’s history and the largest to date. It is the second largest in the world after the West Africa outbreak from 2014 to 2016.
The outbreak began in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo amid conflict, hunger and widespread displacement, expanding to eight provinces. It is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is currently no vaccine or treatment.
The World Health Organization noted that progress is being made. The agency stated that testing and treatment capacity have expanded, and more than 2,600 people have recovered.
Clinical trials, named the TUMAINI trials, launched Friday in the city of Bunia. The trials will initially evaluate whether the Evebro vaccine, which is used to treat the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus, can provide protection in the current crisis. Vaccines will be administered through the ring vaccination approach, which involves close contacts of confirmed Ebola patients.
During the West Africa outbreak, the agency and its partners used the same ring vaccination approach in Guinea to help establish the efficacy of Ervebo, according to Dr. Meg Moherty, the agency’s technical lead for vaccine trials. “Today, scientists are building on that experience to seek answers about Bundibugyo virus,” Moherty said.
Meanwhile, a UN humanitarian fund has allocated more than $2 million to boost Ebola preparedness and response in Kenya. The funding will enable aid partners to support government-led efforts, including enhanced surveillance at border crossing points and training for rapid response teams and front-line responders. Resources will also be used to strengthen preparedness along high-risk refugee and travel routes in the northwest.
Kenya has recorded nine Ebola cases, including two deaths. All cases are linked to a Kenyan man working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who flew to Nairobi via Uganda on Oct. 3 and died two days later. More than 130 contacts were identified and placed under quarantine, and 20 have since been discharged.
The World Health Organization recently convened expert groups to evaluate evidence on two other vaccines designed specifically against Bundibugyo. The findings are expected to be published this week.