Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda are working to contain an outbreak of Ebola that has so far resulted in 246 suspected cases and 88 deaths. The outbreak began in Ituri province in eastern DRC but has spread to other regions and neighbouring Uganda.
WHO Declares Global Health Emergency
On Sunday, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, urging robust efforts to limit its spread. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC since the disease first emerged in 1976.
What is Ebola?
Ebola is a highly contagious and often fatal disease caused by viruses associated with fruit bats. It results in viral haemorrhagic fever, with symptoms including fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, and internal and external bleeding. The disease has a 50% death rate. The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no vaccine.
Why This Outbreak is Concerning
The lack of a vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain and ongoing conflict in the DRC make containment difficult. Dr Simon Williams of Swansea University notes that the existing Ervebo vaccine is not effective against this strain, and there are no specific therapeutics. Conflict has also led to attacks on healthcare facilities, deterring patients from seeking care.
Delayed Detection
The outbreak likely went undetected for weeks, with the first suspected victim dying on 27 April but authorities only alerted via social media on 5 May. By then, 50 people had died. Dr Anne Cori of Imperial College London warns that delays can make control measures like contact tracing much harder.
Potential for Further Spread
Two confirmed cases have been found in Uganda, with one death in Kampala. The WHO warns that the high proportion of positive cases and spread to Kampala point to a potentially much larger outbreak with significant regional risk.
