WHO declares Ebola outbreak an international health emergency; 131 people have died

At least 131 people have died in the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to local officials. In addition, more than 513 people are suspected of being infected with the virus. Beyond the DRC, there are two laboratory-confirmed cases and one death in Uganda, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to be a public health emergency of international concern. The organisation said the outbreak does not meet the criteria for a pandemic. However, the WHO warned that the outbreak could be ‘much larger’ than is currently detected and reported. The risk of spread is local and regional, with significant impacts. A photo caption: Health workers treating Ebola victims in Uganda in 2022. (Getty Images) The outbreak is currently caused by the Bundibugyo strain, the WHO said. There is currently no approved drug or vaccine to counter this strain. Early symptoms include fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headaches, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, a rash, and bleeding. What is Ebola and how is it spread? What caused this outbreak? Ebola is a disease caused by a rare but serious and often deadly virus. There are three Ebola virus species that cause outbreaks. The strain currently circulating is known as Bundibugyo. How is Ebola transmitted? It spreads between people via infected bodily fluids, such as blood and vomit. How deadly is the disease? About 30% of people died in previous Bundibugyo Ebola outbreaks. What is the incubation period? Symptoms appear two to 21 days after infection. What are the symptoms? Early symptoms come on abruptly and resemble the flu, with fever, headache, and fatigue. As the disease progresses, vomiting and diarrhoea occur and organs stop functioning properly. Some patients may experience internal and external bleeding. Where did Ebola come from? Outbreaks begin when someone is infected with Ebola from an animal, such as fruit bats. Is there a vaccine? There is a vaccine for the Zaire strain, but not for Bundibugyo. How far has it spread? WHO now says there are eight laboratory-confirmed cases. Suspected cases and deaths are in three health zones, including Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, and the mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara. How dangerous is the Ebola outbreak in West Africa? WHO has declared the outbreak a global health emergency. Why are outbreaks like the coronavirus becoming more common in the world? One case of this virus has been confirmed in the capital of the DRC, Kinshasa. The patient is believed to have recently travelled from Ituri Province. WHO says the virus has spread beyond the DRC. Two confirmed cases have been reported in neighbouring Uganda. Ugandan officials say a 59-year-old man who died on Thursday (May 14) has tested positive for Ebola. The Ugandan government said the deceased patient was a Congolese national whose body has been repatriated to the DRC. A laboratory has also confirmed a single case of Ebola in Goma in the eastern part of the country, which is currently controlled by the M23 rebel group, according to AFP. WHO said the ongoing security situation, the humanitarian crisis in the DRC, high population mobility, the urban location of the outbreak, and the prevalence of informal health facilities in the area increase the risk of spread. Countries bordering the DRC are considered high risk due to trade and travel. Rwanda said it would tighten border checks with the DRC as a precautionary measure. The Rwandan Ministry of Health said the surveillance system has been strengthened and health teams are on standby to ensure early detection and a rapid response if needed. The worst outbreak in the DRC occurred from 2018 to 2020, during which nearly 2,300 people died. WHO recommends that the DRC and Uganda establish an emergency operations centre to monitor, trace, and implement infection prevention measures. To minimise spread, WHO says confirmed cases should be isolated and treated until two Bundibugyo virus tests show negative results at least 48 hours apart. For neighbouring countries, governments should strengthen surveillance and health reporting. WHO adds that countries outside the affected area should not close borders or restrict travel and trade on the basis of fear or without scientific justification. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that there is currently significant uncertainty about the actual number of people infected and the geographic spread of the outbreak. How worrying is this outbreak? The WHO declares a public health emergency of international concern, but that does not mean we are in the early stage of a pandemic as with Covid. The global risk from Ebola remains very low, even during the 2014-2016 outbreak when there were only three cases in the UK, all of whom were healthcare workers volunteering. WHO says the virus has spread outside the DRC. Two confirmed cases have been reported in Uganda. (AFP via Getty Images) “However, this reflects that the situation is sufficiently complex to require international coordination,” said Dr Amanda Rojek of the Pandemic Sciences Institute at the University of Oxford. Nevertheless, there remains a significant threat to neighbouring countries of the DRC, such as Uganda, Sudan and others.”