Congo Ebola outbreak: What is the Bundibugyo strain and why is there no vaccine for it
The World Health Organisation upgraded its risk assessment of the Ebola virus in Congo, saying the outbreak now poses a “very high” risk. This was raised from the earlier categorisation of “high”. Global health authorities are making efforts to identify the medical options to help contain this outbreak. (AFP) While the health agency has said that the chances of the global spread of the disease remain low, the virus, specifically its Bundibugyo strain, has now spread undetected for weeks in Congo’s Ituri Province, the Associated Press reported. Global health authorities are making efforts to identify the medical options to help contain this outbreak, with there being no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain, as opposed to the more common Zaire strain. Also Read | How to stop the Ebola outbreak The Bundibugyo virus has a fatality rate of up to 40%, Reuters news agency reported. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said seven deaths have been confirmed in Congo, and 82 cases in total. However, Ghebreyesus said the outbreak is believed to be “much …
