Congo Ebola death toll tops 1,400 as vaccine trials start

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has continued to spread, with the number of confirmed infections rising to 3,200.

The country's health authorities say that 1,405 people have died from the virus since the outbreak began in late April, with the current fatality rate standing at 43.9%.

What do we know about the Ebola outbreak?

Almost 90% of cases have been detected in the northeastern province of Ituri, near the borders with Uganda and South Sudan, according to the World Health Organization.

Experts believe that the actual number of cases may be much higher, with a large number of cases going undetected or unreported. However, authorities attributed part of the sharp increase to improved detection and expanded testing.

The outbreak, declared on May 15, has spread to five provinces in the country's conflict-scarred east.

Experts have warned that the epidemic could continue for several more months. Strikes by health workers over unpaid wages have also hampered the response in some hospitals.

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It is the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Can vaccination prevent the spread of the virus?

The epidemic has been caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Scientists are developing several vaccines and medicines targeting the strain.

The UK's Oxford University says the first volunteer has received an experimental vaccine designed specifically to protect against Bundibugyo Ebola.

Other vaccine candidates are due to undergo accelerated clinical trials, while researchers are also developing two potential treatments.

Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person and can cause severe hemorrhagic fever.

More than 15,000 people have died from the disease in Africa over the past 50 years.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko

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