A recent Ebola outbreak has raised concerns among health experts due to the absence of available vaccines or treatments for the deadly virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern following over 80 reported deaths. Although there are more than 300 suspected cases, the outbreak does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency. However, the WHO cautioned that the outbreak could potentially be much larger than currently reported.
Experts highlighted the alarming nature of this particular Ebola outbreak and its potential for a high mortality rate. The confirmation of a case in Kinshasa, about 1,000 kilometers from the outbreak’s origin in Ituri province, suggests a possible wider spread of the virus. Rwanda announced increased border screenings with the DR Congo as a precaution, despite WHO advice against closing international borders.
Health authorities identified the outbreak as being caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, leading to concerns raised by Dr. Anne Cori, an Associate Professor in Infectious Disease Modelling at Imperial College London. Dr. Cori emphasized the lack of vaccines or treatments for this specific virus and highlighted the historical lethality of the disease.
Although not deemed a global threat due to Ebola not being an airborne virus, the identification of cases in Uganda and the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the WHO aim to facilitate coordinated efforts in controlling the epidemic. Another expert, Clinical Professor of Infectious Diseases Emma Thompson from the University of Glasgow, outlined three reasons why this outbreak has alarmed medical professionals, including delayed detection, infections among healthcare workers, and the virus spreading through human mobility networks.
While previous Ebola outbreaks have occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, this marks only the third detection of the Bundibugyo virus. The majority of cases have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with only two cases documented in Uganda, according to the WHO.
