New Strain of Ebola Spreads Rapidly, WHO Sounds Alarm

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised an alarm, stating that the development of a vaccine against the new strain of Ebola could take at least six months. According to the WHO, the outbreak of Ebola spreading in Central Africa likely began months ago but was officially detected only on May 15.

This has significantly complicated efforts to control the spread of the virus. The strain in question is the rarely encountered Bundibugyo strain, for which there is currently neither a confirmed treatment nor an approved vaccine.

Experts from the WHO assert that the most promising experimental vaccine may not enter testing on humans for another 6 to 9 months. Currently, approximately 600 potential cases of infection have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with 139 deaths reported. However, specialists believe the actual numbers could be much higher.

According to estimates from Imperial College London and the WHO, the number of infected individuals may already exceed 800, and in the worst-case scenario, could reach 1,000.