Ebola Vaccine Trials Intensify as DR Congo Outbreak Deaths Top 2,000
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed over 2,000 people, with international efforts intensifying to test a vaccine against the virus. Health authorities reported 2,011 deaths from 4,381 confirmed cases. The current outbreak, the DRC's 17th, is concentrated in eastern and northeastern regions and has a case fatality rate of 45.9 percent. Insecurity and public mistrust have hampered the response, with officials estimating only 30 percent of infected people are being seen. WHO experts recommended a full-scale trial of the existing Ervebo vaccine to test cross-protection against the Bundibugyo strain. The US has allocated over $242 million in additional funding, bringing its total assistance to more than $500 million.