Congo Ebola response shows encouraging signs but WHO warns crisis is far from over

The Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo is showing encouraging signs, but the World Health Organization says the crisis remains far from over.

More than 7,000 infections have been recorded across seven provinces. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, which complicates vaccine planning because Ervebo is licensed for Zaire ebolavirus rather than Bundibugyo ebolavirus.

Response teams are continuing surveillance, isolation, treatment and community engagement. Candidate vaccines associated with Moderna and the University of Oxford are among the options under consideration, but investigation or trial status should not be confused with established protection in this outbreak.

The direction of new cases, geographic spread and access to affected communities will determine whether the early improvement is sustained.

Editorial note: Case totals in an active outbreak are provisional and may be revised. Vaccine references describe the available evidence and development pathway; they do not imply that an unlicensed candidate has proven effective in this emergency.