Ebola: the epidemic has caused more than 5,300 deaths in Africa, the vast majority of which are in the DRC

The Ebola outbreak in Africa has resulted in over 5,300 deaths, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to Africa CDC data. Officially declared on May 15, the outbreak had been detected earlier, with the virus resurfacing months prior. Ebola, transmitted through bodily fluids, has caused over 15,000 deaths in Africa in the last fifty years. The current outbreak has reported 10,444 cases with a fatality rate exceeding 50%. Neighboring Uganda and Kenya have also reported cases, with a recent case in Nigeria involving a Swiss woman. The DRC's health response is hindered by limited resources and local distrust, while the current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccine exists, although trials for the Ervebo vaccine are underway.