DR Congo Ebola outbreak now the worst on record, WHO says
The World Health Organization says the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the worst on record, with the strain having killed 1,587 people so far. No approved vaccine or treatment exists for this particular strain.
The World Health Organization said the Ebola outbreak currently spreading through the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the worst on record, with the strain responsible for 1,587 deaths so far. Health officials warned that case numbers continue to climb in several affected provinces.
Unlike previous outbreaks, no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists for this particular strain of the virus, leaving health workers reliant on containment measures such as contact tracing, isolation and community outreach to slow transmission. International health agencies have stepped up support for local response teams.
The scale of the outbreak has raised alarm among global health bodies, with calls growing for accelerated research into vaccines and treatments, as well as additional funding to support the DRC's overstretched health system.
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