Bundibugyo Virus Epidemic: Challenges and Efforts in Congo and Uganda

The Bundibugyo virus, a lesser-known type of Ebola, has previously caused only two minor outbreaks. Now, it is at the heart of a rapidly spreading epidemic in Africa.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, the Ebola outbreak is expanding. Health workers are racing to provide supportive care. They aim for some patients to recover while isolating the infected and tracing their contacts.

Noticeably absent from the fight are vaccines and drugs that could halt the virus. Scientists, shocked by the growing epidemic’s scale, are working to develop these. On Monday, two major nonprofit vaccine organizations announced substantial funding for vaccine development. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has recommended testing several monoclonal antibodies and other drugs as possible treatments.

According to researchers, determining the effectiveness of these measures will take months. However, the treatments will likely remain useful, as the outbreak is expected to continue.

“It’s going to take a long, committed response to bring this outbreak under control,” said Richard Hatchett, the chief executive of CEPI, which supports the development of vaccines and other pandemic countermeasures.

One challenge in combating Ebola is the variety of viruses involved. The term “Ebola virus” refers to a species first identified in 1976 in what was once Zaire.