Twenty-eight people have died in the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s most recent and ongoing outbreak of Ebola. As of September 15th, there were 81 confirmed cases, and of the 28 deaths, four were health workers.

This outbreak is being caused by the most severe strain of the virus, the Zaire strain.  Genetic analysis shows that the outbreak likely began after a spillover from an animal to a human, rather than a continuation of earlier outbreaks, according to a report by The Conversation. 

Ebola disease is caused by an infection with an orthoebolavirus. Ebola can spread rapidly within families, health-care facilities, and during funerals, where many people gather and the bodies are washed or touched. During the largest recorded epidemic in 2014, more than 800 health workers were infected, and two-thirds of them died.

Survivors can also carry the virus in certain parts of the body that are sheltered from the immune system – such as the brain, eyes or semen – for months or years.

In rare instances, Ebola can “reactivate” in a survivor and trigger new transmission chains. –The Conversation

The World Health Organization reported yesterday that vaccination efforts have begun to slow the spread of this virus. Vaccination of frontline health workers and contacts of people infected with Ebola virus disease started in Bulape health zone in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kasai Province, where an outbreak of the disease has been declared.

The vaccine is being administered through a “ring vaccination strategy”. That means those being vaccinated are individuals at the highest risk of infection after having come into contact with a patient confirmed with the virus. It is also recommended for healthcare and frontline workers responding to the outbreak who may be in contact with Ebola patients.

The Ervebo vaccine is safe and protects against the Zaire ebolavirus species, which has been confirmed as the cause of the ongoing outbreak.  –World Health Organization

The Red Cross has also already launched an “emergency response” to this outbreak.

Red Cross Launches “Emergency Response” To DRC’s Latest Ebola Outbreak

The DRC is currently managing multiple outbreaks at once, including a large mpox epidemic, cholera, and measles, which also require staff, supplies, and attention.

This outbreak has been ignored lately, but it could become much larger and spread if health officials cannot get it under control.