The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern, as health officials warn of a potentially wider regional spread.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, has been described as particularly concerning due to the lack of approved vaccines or specific treatments.
What is Ebola?
Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral disease that causes symptoms including fever, body aches, vomiting and diarrhoea. It spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated materials, or the bodies of those who have died from the disease, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the virus was first identified in 1976.
What is the Bundibugyo strain?
Bundibugyo is a distinct strain of the Ebola virus. According to the WHO, there have been only two previous outbreaks linked to this variant.
Health experts say the current outbreak is especially challenging because there are no approved therapeutics or vaccines specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain, unlike the more common Ebola-Zaire strain.
“Unfortunately, Bundibugyo has fewer proven countermeasures than Zaire ebolavirus, where vaccines have been highly effective in controlling outbreaks,” said Amanda Rojek, Associate Professor of Health Emergencies at the University of Oxford’s Pandemic Sciences Institute.
Where has it spread?
Confirmed cases have been reported in both the DRC and Uganda, with the outbreak most severely affecting regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is also working with South Sudan to monitor cross-border movement in an effort to prevent further spread.
How many people are affected?
The WHO reported eight laboratory-confirmed cases, along with 80 suspected deaths and 246 suspected infections.
Authorities in Uganda confirmed a second case on Sunday, while a separate case was reported in Goma, a city in eastern Congo currently controlled by M23 rebels.
However, the WHO has warned that the true scale of the outbreak remains uncertain.
“There are significant uncertainties to the true number of infected persons and geographic spread associated with this event at the present time,” the agency said.
