The recent Ebola outbreak in Africa has been linked to a new variant of the Bundibugyo strain. Scientific research has revealed that this new form differs genetically from the viruses responsible for the outbreaks in 2007 and 2012. The genome variation exceeds 1.1%, which allows the pathogen to be classified as a distinct subtype.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the number of confirmed cases has reached 2,344, including 930 deaths. The mortality rate stands at 39.7%, and no specific treatment is currently available.
Scientists at the Gamaleya Center have developed a vaccine targeting this current version of the virus, but it is still undergoing the necessary testing. The identified mutations affect genes related to viral replication and protein formation; however, experts caution that it is too early to draw conclusions about an increased level of danger posed by this strain.
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