Kampala: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an international public health emergency due to an Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda. This decision was made public on Sunday, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
According to Ghana News Agency, the outbreak has been associated with the Bundibugyo virus, a less common strain of Ebola compared to the more known Zaire variant. Efforts to contain the outbreak are challenged by the lack of a vaccine or specific treatment for this particular strain. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 88 deaths and 336 suspected cases in Congo, with one fatality occurring in Uganda.
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has identified the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). Although it is a significant concern, the situation does not yet meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency. WHO emphasizes the importance of heightened alertness and international support, as all of Congo's neighboring countries face high risk.
The outbreak has primarily affected Congo's north-eastern Ituri Province, bordering Uganda and South Sudan. There are fears of further spread, as evidenced by a Congolese man who traveled to Uganda and died of Ebola in Kampala. His body was transported back to Congo and buried, raising concerns about further transmission.
Another case of cross-border travel of an infected person from Congo to Uganda has been reported by WHO. Additionally, a case has been confirmed in Kinshasa, Congo's capital, which is over 1,500 kilometers from the epicenter in Ituri Province.
WHO has noted the challenges in the most affected area, which is grappling with security issues, a humanitarian crisis, and significant population movements, thereby increasing the risk of local and regional virus spread. Over the weekend, Rwanda closed its border with Congo as a precautionary measure.
The Africa CDC is investigating the outbreak's origins to track the infection chain. Jean Kaseya, the director of the authority, mentioned that the initial cases likely emerged in the third week of April. Doctors without Borders (MSF) is preparing a large-scale response in Congo's Ituri Province. Trish Newport, MSF Emergency Programme Manager, expressed concern over the rapid increase in cases and deaths, emphasizing the need for swift action.
Ebola is a highly contagious and deadly disease, transmitted through direct contact and bodily fluids. The Robert Koch Institute in Germany notes that the mortality rate can reach 90% without immediate treatment. The 2014-2015 West Africa outbreak of the Zaire variant resulted in over 11,000 deaths.
The most recent Ebola incidents in Congo occurred in September, with 45 fatalities in the Kasa Province.