Damian Zane

The Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo began at least three months before it was officially declared, leaving health authorities struggling to contain it. The Bundibugyo strain has caused 4,294 confirmed cases and 1,960 deaths, making the outbreak the second-deadliest on record. Insecurity, delayed diagnoses, limited access to patients, unsafe burial practices and mistrust of health authorities are hindering the response. Treatment centres have expanded and diagnoses are occurring faster, but there is no approved vaccine or recognised therapeutic drug for this strain.