Ebola Deaths Exceed 1,000 in DRC; New Lancet Study Identifies Distinct Viral Clade

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has resulted in over 1,000 deaths. A new study published in The Lancet indicates that the circulating virus is a distinct new clade, rather than a re-emergence of a known strain. This finding suggests that existing countermeasures may need to be adapted. The outbreak has been ongoing for months, with challenges in reaching affected health zones due to insecurity.