African health officials say 65 people have been killed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by a strain of Ebola for which there is no vaccination and no approved treatments.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Friday tests suggested that the strain – which has caused 246 suspected cases in Ituri province – was a non-Zaire strain of the viral disease.
There are currently no licenced treatments for non-Zaire strains, and no vaccines.
Africa CDC also raised a concern as the outbreak is in a region where there is a high movement of people to neighbouring countries including Uganda and South Sudan.
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“Given the high population movement between affected areas and neighbouring countries, rapid regional coordination is essential,” said Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC.
“We are working with DRC, Uganda, South Sudan and partners to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and response, and to help contain the outbreak as quickly as possible.”
If confirmed, it would rank as the second largest non-Zaire outbreak on record, according to specialists at the Imperial College School of Public Health, in the UK.
They added that the high number of cases suggested that the transmission had been detected late, raising concerns.
“In addition, if it is confirmed that this is not the Zaire species, this could be potentially challenging to control in the absence of a vaccine,” a Q&A document released by the school said.
There are four distinct types of Ebola known to affect humans: Zaire, Sudan, Bundibugyo and Tai Forest.
Zaire is the most well-known as it has caused several major outbreaks, such as the 2013-2016 West African outbreak which was the largest ever recorded with more than 28,000 reported cases.
The Sudan strain has caused nine outbreaks since 1976, most recently in January 2025. Bundibugyo has only caused two outbreaks in 2007 and 2012, and Tai Forest is only known to have infected a single person in Cote d’Ivoire in 1994.
Africa CDC will give an additional update on the outbreak on Saturday, by which time it hopes to confirm the strain.
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