Topline
An outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has now recorded 750 cases, with the suspected death toll rising to 177, according to an announcement from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday.
Timeline
The WHO reported 82 confirmed cases along with seven confirmed deaths in Congo. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that around 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths are also being monitored.
He emphasized that the situation in Congo is “deeply worrisome,” while mentioning that Uganda’s situation seems “stable” with just two confirmed cases and one death.
Ghebreyesus also noted that another American is regarded as a “high-risk contact” and has been transferred to the Czech Republic.
Witnesses reported that locals set fire to items within a treatment center and the body of a deceased individual, expressing frustration over not being permitted to retrieve their friend’s body. This illustrates how contact with infected bodies can easily lead to the virus spreading, causing authorities to manage burials cautiously in the region.
WHO has indicated that there are over 600 suspected cases in this ongoing outbreak, with 148 suspected deaths, with numbers likely to rise.
Concerns grew after a death was reported near Bukavu, a city over 300 miles from the outbreak’s epicenter, suggesting the outbreak may be more widespread than current statistics reflect.
An Air France flight to Detroit was diverted to Montreal after a passenger was mistakenly allowed to board in France, disregarding new travel restrictions meant to prevent entry for non-citizens recently in Uganda, DRC, or South Sudan.
An American missionary, Dr. Peter Stafford, is undergoing treatment for Ebola in Germany after contracting the virus in Congo. Another American doctor exposed to the outbreak is heading to Bulovka Hospital in Prague.
Meanwhile, the WHO reiterated the presence of over 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths primarily in Congo.
DRC health officials reported 131 deaths along with 513 suspected cases linked to this outbreak, indicating a broader area is now being affected.
During a speech at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern about the outbreak’s scale and speed, noting cases in major urban areas, including Kampala and Goma.
President Trump expressed concerns over the Ebola outbreak during a White House briefing.
Dr. Satish Pillai from the CDC mentioned that an American doctor exposed to the outbreak tested positive and would be evacuated to Germany for treatment. Additionally, six other Americans are also in the process of being evacuated for monitoring or treatment.
The CDC assessed the ongoing risk to Americans as “low.”
The CDC and Department of Homeland Security announced new travel restrictions. This includes enhanced public health screening for those arriving from affected areas and strict entry protocols for non-U.S. passport holders who visited Uganda, the Congo, or South Sudan in the last 21 days.
Jean Kaseya, the director-general of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, confirmed over 100 fatalities related to the Ebola outbreak along with at least 395 suspected cases.
Several Americans were reportedly exposed to Ebola while working in Congo, according to unnamed sources, with one displaying symptoms of the virus.
The CDC stated it is working to extract a small number of Americans affected by this outbreak from Congo.
The WHO designated the outbreak as an “extraordinary event” potentially posing public health risks across multiple nations, indicating a need for a coordinated international response soon.
Additionally, the WHO reported at least 80 deaths, including one occurring in Uganda after travel from Congo.
Laboratory tests confirmed the outbreak as the Bundibugyo strain, which lacks a vaccine and previously had a 32% mortality rate during a past outbreak in 2007.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control indicated that over 246 individuals have contracted the virus in the Ituri province, leading to 65 deaths. Officials have expressed concerns regarding further spread due to frequent travel, limited resources, and challenges in contact tracing.
When Did The Outbreak Begin?
Health officials suspect the first case emerged a few weeks before the WHO declared a public health emergency. An initial suspected case involving a healthcare worker was reported in late April, but the exact date varies. The DRC health minister mentioned the individual died on April 24, while the Africa CDC claims this occurred on April 27. Initial focus was on more common virus strains, leading to negative tests. However, authorities confirmed two weeks later that the outbreak was due to the rarer Bundibugyo variant.
Key Background
This outbreak is the 17th in the DRC in the last 50 years, following a previous outbreak wrapped up in December that resulted in 45 deaths. Most earlier outbreaks involved the Ebola-Zaire strain, for which vaccines are available. In contrast, the currently spreading Bundibugyo strain lacks an approved vaccine or treatment. Supportive care is the only aid available for those infected, which includes medications to manage symptoms like fever and vomiting. The fatality rate in untreated cases of Bundibugyo is comparable to that of untreated smallpox or typhoid.
Surprising Fact
The last documented Ebola cases in the U.S. occurred in 2014 during an epidemic that resulted in 11 cases. Nine of these were infections contracted in West Africa, later treated in the U.S. Two fatalities were recorded, while the remaining cases involved two nurses who contracted the virus in Dallas after treating an infected patient. They both survived.
Tangent
The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, instituted by the WHO and World Bank, expressed concerns that the world isn’t adequately prepared for another pandemic despite lessons learned during the recent COVID outbreak. In a report, they highlighted that global health research and prevention efforts haven’t kept pace with the rising frequency of infectious disease outbreaks.
