# Ebola outbreak spirals as world looks away

> The fastest-growing Ebola epidemic ever is overwhelming health workers in Congo, and a vaccine race against time may be the only way to stop it.
- Title: Ebola outbreak spirals as world looks away · WIRED | Shortify
- Summary: The fastest-growing Ebola epidemic ever is overwhelming health workers in Congo, and a vaccine race against time may be the only way to stop it. A…
- Keywords: ebola, bundibugyo virus, democratic republic of congo, cepi, vaccine development, outbreak response, nicole lurie, teresa lambe, outbreak, spirals, world, looks
- Source: WIRED — https://wired.com/story/organization-fighting-ebola-never-more-worried
- Author: Isabella Ward
- Published: 2026-09-23T09:45:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ebola, bundibugyo virus, democratic republic of congo, cepi, vaccine development, outbreak response, nicole lurie, teresa lambe
## Seven thousand infected in Congo
More than seven thousand people have contracted Bundibugyo Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo since May, with around half dead.
## The fastest outbreak ever recorded
Nicole Lurie, executive director for preparedness and response at Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, calls it the most rapidly growing Ebola outbreak ever seen.

> This is the most rapidly growing Ebola outbreak that we've seen. It's probably on pace to be the worst the world has ever seen.
## Violence blocks traditional containment
Millions displaced by conflict make contact tracing impossible. Locals attack Red Cross volunteers and destroy medical equipment, blocking isolation and treatment.
## CEPI races to develop vaccine
After first cases in May, CEPI redirected one hundred million dollars to fund vaccine development. Oxford and Moderna candidates have entered safety trials.
## Vaccine distrust threatens trials
Teresa Lambe, lead investigator on Oxford's safety trials, worries that even effective vaccines may not be used due to community mistrust.

> The thing that worries me is vaccine distrust and mistrust. And even if we get vaccines that are fabulous, will they be used?
## US cuts hamper global response
The Trump administration's withdrawal from the World Health Organization and cuts to foreign aid have left responders short of staff and basic equipment.
## Funding runs out in December
CEPI will exhaust its Ebola program funds by December without additional money, despite the US committing fifty million dollars in June.
## Key takeaway

A record-breaking Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed thousands, but vaccine development and funding shortages threaten the response.