Congo's Ebola Death Toll Hits 930 as Three Drug Trials Race to Fill Vaccine Gap

Congo’s Ebola death toll tied to the Bundibugyo strain has reached 930, as the Ministry of Health reported at least 930 deaths since the outbreak began. The article says 37 new deaths were recorded in a 24-hour window from Friday into Saturday, bringing confirmed cases to 2,344 and placing the event among the fastest-growing Ebola outbreaks in recorded history, surpassing the early expansion rate of the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic. Itori’s epicenter has reportedly faced disruptions to contact tracing due to strikes, while the response efforts for clinical trials are also under pressure. The Bundibugyo virus is described as distinct from the Zaire strain, with no licensed vaccine or approved treatment and a genetic divergence of about 30% at the nucleotide level, rendering existing countermeasures ineffective. Oxford has opened a Phase I vaccine trial in the UK, with outcomes expected months away, while three experimental clinical trials are underway. The article notes the outbreak was officially declared on May 15, 2026.