Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning that the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has exceeded the current response capacity. The organization is urgently calling for additional financial and operational support to manage and contain the outbreak's spread.

According to Anadolu Agency, Dr. Vasee Moorthy, acting lead of WHO's R and D Blueprint, emphasized the growing severity of the outbreak, declaring it the largest the country has ever experienced. Moorthy highlighted the urgent need for increased funding and resources to enhance treatment capabilities, deploy field investigation teams, establish safe burial teams, and engage community health workers. He stressed the importance of focusing efforts on areas currently affected by the virus and those at risk of future transmission.

As of August 1, the outbreak has resulted in 3,748 confirmed cases and 1,657 confirmed deaths, with 708 individuals recovering. The virus has been reported in 49 health zones across five provinces, with around 17,000 contacts being monitored, of which more than 80% are followed up daily.

Moorthy noted the absence of proven safe and effective treatments, vaccines, or preventive medicines specifically targeting Bundibugyo Ebola. However, he mentioned that early access to supportive care can be life-saving. Additionally, clinical trials for experimental treatments and a potential post-exposure preventive medicine are underway in Congo. Two candidate vaccines specifically for Bundibugyo Ebola have entered Phase 1 trials in the UK and Canada.