The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is now the worst in the country’s history, with the death toll having reached 3,007 amid an international push to develop vaccines to curb the spread of the disease, reports BritPanorama.
At least 6,186 cases have been confirmed in the DR Congo, with infections also spreading across its porous borders. Patients have contracted the Bundibugyo strain of the disease, and the World Health Organisation has announced that potential vaccines are set to undergo testing. Trials could take place next month or in November, with additional treatments also being evaluated.
“Until every chain is found and broken, the epidemic will continue and will continue to pose a threat to DRC, its neighbours and the region as a whole,” said WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The WHO formally declared the outbreak in the DRC’s Ituri province on May 15. Since then, cases have been reported in six nearby areas, marking the worst Ebola crisis since the outbreak between 2014 and 2016, during which at least 28,600 people were infected and over 11,000 died across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Travel restrictions
The scale of the crisis was underscored this summer when travellers exhibiting symptoms of Ebola were admitted to a hospital in Israel after arriving from the DRC. Although test results returned negative, the incident highlighted the risks posed by international travel from regions experiencing outbreaks.
The UAE has imposed precautionary travel restrictions to and from African countries that have reported Ebola cases.
Mpox outbreak
Alongside the Ebola crisis, health authorities are also working to improve access to mpox vaccines. This outbreak, which began in 2022, has spread to approximately 145 countries, with 190,683 cases and 529 deaths reported globally. The Clade Ib strain has led to an increase in cases across the DRC and some European nations.
Mpox is notably less lethal than Ebola, with a fatality rate of about 10 percent compared to Ebola’s range of 25 to 90 percent, contingent on access to treatment.
Both diseases are transmitted differently; mpox spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, whereas Ebola transmits through contact with blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated surfaces.
Global vaccine stockpile
A global initiative to enhance a stockpile of mpox vaccines was launched on August 27, seeking to establish a long-term system to ensure countries have access to necessary shots. This effort has been funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in coordination with the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision.
“During the 2022 mpox outbreak, lower-income countries were left behind when it came to access to vaccines,” stated Dr. Sania Nishtar, chief executive of Gavi. “It was clear that a mechanism was needed to ensure this global public good could be accessed by those who need it most. Our hope is that this stockpile will keep the world safer from the threat of this deadly disease.”
In 2024, the UAE played a crucial role in funding and distributing vaccines to African nations facing mpox and Ebola challenges. Medical support, including vaccines, was sent to the DRC, Nigeria, South Africa, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon.
“Support is particularly important for childhood vaccination programmes,” noted UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Mpox can be devastating for children, affecting not only their health but also causing stigma, disrupting education, and instilling fear of isolation from family and friends.”
