WHO Seeks to Reverse Fastest Moving Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo

The World Health Organization (WHO) expects to reverse the growth trend of an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) within three months, provided all response components are applied simultaneously. The current epidemic is the fastest moving on record, with 4,449 confirmed cases and 2,061 deaths. While the WHO hopes for a trend reversal, officials clarified that this does not mean the epidemic will end in three months, as surveillance and response activities must continue to prevent the virus from reappearing.

Research published in the medical journal Nature Medicine indicates the outbreak was caused by a new animal to human transmission event rather than variants from previous outbreaks. The virus is the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which no vaccine has yet been developed. This differs from the Zaire strain involved in the 2014 to 2016 West African crisis. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that at its current pace, this outbreak is on track to eclipse that previous crisis.

The emergency is concentrated in the northeast and east of the DRC, regions characterized by dense populations and fragile state presence. Response efforts are severely complicated by constant conflict, the presence of armed groups, and general population distrust. The outbreak was formally declared on May 15, though genetic sequencing suggests the virus began circulating as early as February.