Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Ebola outbreaks are once again causing\nglobal alert. This time, concerns stem from a rare virus strain\nspreading in conflict zones with no specific vaccine available.<\/p>\n
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health\nemergency following cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and\nspread to Uganda.<\/p>\n
Theoretically, Ebola is not as easily transmissible as Covid-19; it\ndoes not spread through the air. Transmission occurs via bodily fluids\nsuch as blood, vomit, saliva, and semen. However, this is precisely the\nproblem: once infected, the fatality rate is extremely high, with\nprevious outbreaks reaching nearly 50% mortality.<\/p>\n
This situation is compounded by the circulating Bundibugyo strain,\nwhich is rare and lacks a specific vaccine. The two existing Ebola\nvaccines are only effective against the Zaire strain, the most common in\nAfrica, meaning healthcare workers face a deadly virus without available\nprotective vaccines on the ground.<\/p>\n
On the ground, conditions complicate matters further. The outbreak\noriginated in Ituri Province, eastern DRC, a region plagued by armed\nconflict for years.<\/p>\n
Hospitals and healthcare facilities in the area have been targeted by\nmilitia groups multiple times, causing many residents to avoid seeking\ntreatment for fear of attack or suspicion. Delays in seeking care during\nEbola outbreaks allow wider transmission within families and\ncommunities.<\/p>\n
According to WHO, as of mid-May 2026, there were hundreds of\nsuspected cases and dozens to hundreds of deaths. Cases have also been\ndetected in Uganda after cross-border travel, with one patient dying in\nthe capital, Kampala. Human mobility means Ebola remains a regional\nthreat despite being less contagious than flu or Covid.<\/p>\n
Another issue is delayed initial detection. The first patient is\nbelieved to have shown symptoms in late April 2026, but health\nauthorities only became aware of the outbreak days later after social\nmedia reports. By the time the alarm sounded, dozens had already\ndied.<\/p>\n
In Ebola outbreaks, even a few weeks\u2019 delay can disrupt contact\ntracing and make transmission chains difficult to unravel.<\/p>\n
Ebola is a haemorrhagic fever caused by a virus believed to originate\nfrom fruit bats. Initial transmission typically occurs from animals to\nhumans. Once inside the body, the virus attacks blood vessels and\ndisrupts clotting, leading to rapid internal or external bleeding. In\nsevere cases, organs begin to fail.<\/p>\n
Initial symptoms often resemble common illnesses: fever, muscle pain,\nweakness, vomiting, and diarrhoea. This is why Ebola is frequently\nmisdiagnosed in remote areas with limited healthcare facilities. By the\ntime bleeding occurs, patients are usually in critical condition.<\/p>\n
However, experts believe the world is better prepared than during the\n2014 Ebola epidemic. Contact tracing systems, diagnostic laboratories,\nand patient isolation procedures have improved significantly. WHO and\nAfrican health authorities are also coordinating more swiftly across\nborders. Yet major challenges remain, particularly in war zones and\nareas with minimal healthcare services.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/why-ebola-is-now-a-growing-threat-1780342119", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }