Ebola Outbreak Death Toll Rises To 131 (Live Updates)
Forbes • • general
Key Points:
- Over 130 people have died in the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with the WHO expressing deep concern over its rapid spread.
- The outbreak likely began in late April with a healthcare worker's death, initially misidentified due to testing focused on a more common Ebola strain; it was later confirmed to be caused by the rarer Bundibugyo variant.
- This is the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC in 50 years and follows a recent outbreak that ended in December with 45 deaths; unlike previous Ebola-Zaire strains, the Bundibugyo strain currently has no approved vaccine or treatment.
- Supportive care remains the only treatment option for Bundibugyo Ebola, focusing on symptom management such as blood pressure support and fever reduction, with past outbreaks showing a fatality rate around 32%.
- The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board warns that despite lessons from COVID-19, the world remains unprepared for future pandemics, facing increased risks amid global divisions and weakened health systems.