As an Ebola outbreak grows in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, researchers are scrambling to learn more about the rare virus that has sickened hundreds. What they find may be crucial to help turn the tide on a virus that, for now, is outpacing efforts to contain it.<\/p>\n
The Bundibugyo virus has been behind just two previous outbreaks: One in Uganda that began in late 2007 and another in Congo in 2012.<\/p>\n
The majority of Ebola outbreaks in Africa have been caused by the Ebola virus, one of four Orthoebolavirus<\/em> species that sporadically sicken people. The biggest, the 2014\u20132016 outbreak in West Africa that caused more than 28,600 cases and more than 11,000 deaths, fueled efforts to develop vaccines and treatments. As a result, countries including Congo stockpiled vaccines and drugs in preparation for future outbreaks.<\/p>\n