WHO Seeks Urgent Support as Congo Ebola Outbreak Expands

Geneva: (News Desk) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for urgent international support as the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to spread faster than response efforts can manage.

WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said the outbreak is expanding beyond the current capacity of health teams and requires additional financial assistance, medical resources, treatment facilities, field investigation teams, safe burial units, and community workers.

According to WHO figures, the outbreak has so far recorded 3,802 confirmed Ebola cases, including 1,707 deaths. A total of 727 patients have recovered, while 275 suspected cases remain under investigation.

Health authorities are monitoring around 17,000 contacts of infected individuals, with more than 80 percent receiving daily medical checks to detect possible new infections.

The outbreak has affected five provinces, with nearly 90 percent of cases reported in northeastern Ituri province and most remaining cases in neighbouring North Kivu.

WHO officials said response efforts must focus on controlling current transmission areas while also preparing for possible further spread of the virus.

The latest outbreak, declared on May 15, marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is being caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.

Unlike some other Ebola strains, there are currently no proven approved vaccines, treatments, or preventive medicines specifically effective against Bundibugyo Ebola. However, researchers are testing several possible vaccines, therapies, and antiviral drugs.

WHO research chief Vasee Moorthy said early results from vaccine studies have shown encouraging signs. Researchers are examining whether the Ervebo vaccine, originally developed for the Zaire Ebola strain, may provide protection against Bundibugyo in animal studies.

Two leading vaccine candidates are currently under evaluation: the ChAdOx1 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India, and an mRNA-based vaccine developed by US pharmaceutical company Moderna.

Trials are also underway for potential treatments, including the monoclonal antibody MBP134 and antiviral drug remdesivir for Ebola patients, while obeldesivir is being studied for people exposed to confirmed cases.