An Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to 80 suspected deaths and nine confirmed cases. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, is not classified as a pandemic emergency, but neighboring countries are at high risk of further transmission.
As of Saturday, the WHO reported 80 suspected deaths, eight confirmed cases, and 246 suspected cases in the DRC’s Ituri province, spanning multiple health zones. Additionally, a confirmed case was identified in Goma, a city in eastern Congo.
The WHO highlighted that this is the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC and could potentially be more extensive based on initial sample positivity rates and the rising number of suspected cases. Unlike the Ebola-Zaire strains, there are no approved therapeutics or vaccines specific to the Bundibugyo virus, making this outbreak particularly challenging.
The WHO emphasized the importance of countries implementing national disaster and emergency measures, conducting cross-border screenings, and monitoring internal road traffic to mitigate the risk of international spread. In Uganda’s capital, Kampala, two unrelated confirmed cases, including one fatality, were reported from individuals who had traveled from the DRC.
The WHO advised against international travel for individuals in contact with Bundibugyo virus cases unless for medical evacuation purposes. It stressed the need for isolating confirmed cases, daily monitoring of contacts, and restricting national and international travel for 21 days post-exposure.
While urging countries not to close borders or restrict travel and trade due to fear, the WHO warned that such actions could lead to unmonitored informal border crossings. The dense tropical forests of the DRC serve as a natural reservoir for the Ebola virus, facilitating its transmission.
Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, sought technical guidance on potentially declaring the outbreak a continental security emergency. The highly contagious virus, characterized by symptoms like fever, body aches, vomiting, and diarrhea, spreads through direct contact with infected persons or materials.
The situation remains critical, requiring coordinated efforts and preventive measures to contain the outbreak and prevent further escalation.