The ongoing Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus has taken a devastating toll on people’s lives and health, claiming over 5000 lives.
Supporting the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s health response, WHO and partners are working to advance vaccine research, treatments and medicines that can improve care and save lives. WHO expert groups have recommended adding two candidate vaccines to the ongoing Tumaini clinical trial in the DRC, marking a milestone in protecting people against Bundibugyo virus.
Here’s how science is driving the search for solutions in the face of a crisis.
Learn more: bit.ly/4zrtWtn
ECDC's 3 November figures show the toll still climbing: 10,532 confirmed cases and 5,126 deaths in the DRC across eight provinces, 258 cases and 134 deaths more than in its 30 October update. Will health workers in Ituri and North Kivu be among the first enrolled when the two candidate vaccines join the Tumaini trial?
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The longer transmission continues, the more difficult and expensive containment will become. Waiting until an outbreak becomes a pandemic emergency before mobilizing sufficient assistance will be a serious mistake. The goal should be to put out the fire while containment is still achievable, not to wait until it crosses another border. A pandemic-emergency declaration could create far greater international urgency, attract political attention, and put pressure on governments to provide funding and strengthen public health response.
@WHOAFRO @WHOEMRO @WHOWPRO @WHONigeria
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