Kampala: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring Uganda a 'public health emergency of international concern.' The declaration follows the virus's deadly impact, having killed nearly 90 people so far.
According to Ghana Web, the outbreak has its origins in the eastern DRC's Ituri province and involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which currently lacks an approved vaccine or treatment. Health authorities have expressed concern over the high regional risk posed by the outbreak, noting that infections have already been detected in Uganda and cases linked to the outbreak have reached the Congolese capital, Kinshasa. Despite the severity of the situation, the WHO has not declared the outbreak a pandemic, citing that it does not meet the necessary criteria, and has advised against closing borders or restricting trade.
The outbreak was initially reported in Ituri province, located in the northeastern DRC near the borders with Uganda and South Sudan, as per Africa's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). As of the latest reports, 88 deaths and 336 suspected cases have been identified. The outbreak began in the bustling mining area of Mongwalu, from where infected individuals traveled to other regions, further spreading the disease. The Africa CDC has warned that factors such as population movements, fragile healthcare infrastructure, and violence by armed groups in Ituri could further complicate containment efforts.
The patient zero of the current outbreak was a nurse who exhibited Ebola-like symptoms upon arriving at a health facility in Bunia, the capital of Ituri, on April 24, according to DRC Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba. Uganda has reported two laboratory-confirmed cases linked to travelers arriving from the DRC, including one fatality in Kampala.
Trish Newport of Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, expressed concern over the rapid increase in cases and deaths and the spread of the virus across several health zones and international borders. She emphasized the importance of swift action to prevent the outbreak from escalating further, especially given the challenges people in Ituri face in accessing healthcare and dealing with ongoing insecurity.
Ebola, first identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the DRC, is a severe viral disease believed to originate in wild animals, particularly bats, before spreading to humans. It spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids like blood, vomit, and other contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and in severe cases, bleeding. The Bundibugyo strain, responsible for the current outbreak, was first identified in Uganda in 2007 and has a high lethality rate of up to 50%.
The WHO's declaration as a 'public health emergency of international concern' is its second-highest alert level. Although the outbreak does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has stated that neighboring countries are at high risk for further spread. The WHO has recommended that these countries activate emergency-management systems, enhance cross-border screening, and isolate confirmed cases immediately, while also advising against border closures to avoid unmonitored informal crossings that could undermine containment efforts.
Historically, the DRC has faced at least 17 Ebola outbreaks since 1976, with the deadliest occurring from 2018 to 2020, resulting in nearly 2,300 deaths. The region is also grappling with significant challenges, including ongoing conflicts involving various rebel groups, which complicate the response to the virus. Recent attacks by rebels in the northeastern province have claimed the lives of at least 69 people, exacerbating the situation.
The mineral-rich eastern DRC has long been affected by conflict, with numerous armed factions competing for control over its resources, further intensifying the complexities of managing health crises like the current Ebola outbreak.