More than 1,000 individuals have succumbed to a rapidly escalating Ebola outbreak, causing concern at a London hospital over a potential case in the city. Here are the primary symptoms to be vigilant for.
A UK citizen is currently under isolation in a London medical facility after returning from work in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter of the outbreak. The individual had been assisting families in the African nation when the virus started spreading this week.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) clarified that the patient has not yet received an Ebola diagnosis. While medical professionals take necessary precautions, we examine Ebola’s main symptoms, the outbreak in DR Congo, and the situation in London.
Ebola, a rare but severe infection typically found in African regions, has minimal instances outside the continent, with no confirmed cases in the UK and low public risk.
The virus is contracted from wild animals and spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids, with no reported person-to-person transmission in the UK.
Symptoms may manifest between two to 21 days post-infection, resembling flu-like symptoms such as high fever, extreme fatigue, and headaches. Additional symptoms, as per the NHS, include:
DR Congo’s single province has reported over 2,000 cases, with suspected cases emerging in two more provinces, including Kisangani, a major city, heightening concerns about the virus’s reach.
The World Health Organization noted that 80% of new cases were tied to untraceable transmission chains, complicating efforts to isolate cases and curb the virus’s spread.
The outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments, posing challenges for health authorities in containing its spread.
The UK resident under isolation at a London hospital had been working with an organization supporting the Ebola response in DR Congo and was evacuated on a dedicated charter flight.
Currently, infectious disease specialists at the London hospital are assessing and monitoring the individual in isolation. Richard Pebody, director at UKHSA, stated that the overall public risk remains low, and the individual was transferred as a precautionary measure.
The last reported Ebola case in the UK dates back to 2015 during the 2014-2016 west Africa outbreak. Apart from DR Congo, Uganda has reported 20 cases, while France reported one case, resulting in two deaths in Uganda, according to the WHO.
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