The Ebola outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus has killed more than 5,300 people, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accounting for almost all reported deaths. More than 10,000 people have been infected since the outbreak began in May, making it the fastest-growing and most widespread Ebola epidemic on record, according to Africa’s leading public health agency.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) confirmed to AFP on Monday that the outbreak had claimed 5,376 lives across the affected countries. Of these, 5,372 deaths were recorded in the DRC, while Kenya and Uganda reported two deaths each.
According to the DRC Ministry of Health’s latest figures, published on 31 October, infections have exceeded 10,000, with more than half of those infected dying. The scale of the outbreak has raised concerns about the spread of the virus beyond the DRC, particularly as neighbouring countries have also reported cases.
Uganda recorded 20 infections, most involving people who had travelled from the DRC. The country was declared Ebola-free in August after bringing that outbreak under control.
Kenya reported nine infections in October, marking the first time the country had recorded an Ebola case. The development raised further concerns about cross-border transmission and the risk of the virus reaching countries with no previous experience of managing an outbreak of this kind.
Nigeria also reported an Ebola case in October. The patient was a 42-year-old Swiss woman whose husband works at the Swiss embassy in Abuja. The couple had travelled to Uganda before returning to Nigeria. The case prompted additional attention from international health authorities, given Nigeria’s large population and its importance as a regional travel hub.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a relatively rare species of Ebola virus. It spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or someone who has died from the disease. Infection can cause severe illness, including haemorrhagic fever, and may lead to death.
One of the main challenges facing health authorities is the absence of an approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain. This makes early detection, isolation of infected people, contact tracing and infection prevention particularly important in limiting transmission.
Research into possible protection against the virus is continuing. Clinical trials of the Ervebo vaccine have recently begun as part of efforts to assess its effectiveness against the outbreak. The vaccine has previously demonstrated effectiveness against the Zaire strain of Ebola, which is responsible for most major Ebola outbreaks. However, its effectiveness against the Bundibugyo virus has not been established.
The spread of infections across several African countries has placed additional pressure on public health authorities to strengthen surveillance, identify cases quickly and coordinate responses across national borders. The outbreak also highlights the challenges of responding to an Ebola strain for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
