WHO flags very high Ebola risk in DR Congo as outbreak expands

The World Health Organization raised the Ebola outbreak risk in the Democratic Republic of Congo from high to very high, with 82 confirmed cases and 7 deaths among about 750 suspected cases. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no proven vaccine. Oxford University is developing a vaccine using the AstraZeneca platform, with Serum Institute of India lined up to mass-produce if approved, and a separate Bundibugyo vaccine in early development that could take 6–9 months to test. Globally the risk remains low, but the region faces high risk and is hampered by insecurity and distrust, including violence at a hospital and challenges around safe burials.