The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled a new outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a public health emergency of international concern. This announcement was made on Sunday.
However, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pointed out in a statement that this situation “does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency” and urged countries to refrain from closing their borders.
This outbreak was first noted in the eastern Ituri province of the DRC on Friday, with reports indicating hundreds of suspected cases, including one that has spread to Uganda. The new strain of the virus currently lacks a vaccine, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ebola spreads through blood, other bodily fluids, and contaminated surfaces. Symptoms can include fever, body aches, extreme fatigue, vomiting, and, occasionally, bleeding, as stated by the WHO.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Africa CDC’s director general, mentioned during a press conference that health officials suspect the outbreak began in late April, with 336 suspected cases and 87 fatalities reported so far.
The cases have primarily been reported in two mining towns, Mongwalu and Rwampara, both of which see a high flow of workers. “We are talking about a region that is very vulnerable and fragile,” Kaseya noted.
On May 14, a 59-year-old man from Congo died from the virus in Kampala, Uganda’s capital. Kaseya discussed how many individuals were likely in contact with him before he died, emphasizing the necessity for protective equipment.
“A person arrived from DRC, landed in Uganda, and sought hospital care,” he explained. “He was already sick and had been around many people. He used public transportation to get to Uganda.” After passing away in the hospital, the man’s body was returned across the border for burial.
Due to the virus’s high transmission rate, infectious disease experts recommend extensive protective gear for healthcare workers treating Ebola patients. This includes head coverings, goggles, masks or face shields, gloves, gowns, and even rubber boots.
While Kaseya mentioned uncertainty about the protective equipment used by those who interacted with the deceased, he acknowledged that adequate manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE) is lacking. “Funds are needed,” he noted, as efforts are underway to address this issue.
The speed of the virus’s spread remains uncertain. Previous outbreaks of the Bundibugyo strain, which is less common than the Zaire strain, occurred but are not as well understood, and there is currently no available vaccine.
Researchers, however, have identified a candidate for an experimental vaccine that is still under investigation. Kaseya reported that it has shown an efficacy rate of approximately 50% in monkeys, yet its effects on humans remain untested.
The African CDC has been collaborating with various health organizations and pharmaceutical companies to enhance cross-border surveillance, preparedness, and response efforts, as stated in a recent announcement.
Dr. Craig Spencer, a professor at Brown University who survived the Zaire strain while working with Doctors Without Borders, expressed concerns on social media about the outbreak’s scale. “This suggests that we’re becoming aware of the outbreak long after it has already started spreading,” he noted, which complicates the process of tracking contacts and cases.
During the largest Ebola outbreak from 2014 to 2016, there were 28,600 cases and 11,325 deaths, as reported by the World Health Organization. This outbreak originated in Guinea and spread to several other countries in West Africa.
