Kampala: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a global public health emergency, marking the highest alert level due to the detection of cross-border transmission of a rare strain for which there is no officially approved vaccine or cure.
According to Thai News Agency, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reports that the Ebola virus currently spreading in these regions is the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, a rare strain lacking an approved vaccine or specific treatment. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, at least 80 suspected deaths have been reported, with 8 laboratory-confirmed cases and 246 suspected cases distributed across three health districts of Ituri Province. Uganda has identified two confirmed cases in Kampala, both involving individuals who traveled from Congo, resulting in one death. Additionally, a confirmed case has been found in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo, involving a person returning from Ituri Province.
While the WHO has declared the current Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), this declaration emphasizes the rare Bundibugyo strain for which there is no officially approved vaccine or treatment available. The WHO clarifies that the situation does not yet qualify as a global pandemic, but the emergency declaration aims to expedite international coordination and funding.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) further noted that the Bundibugyo strain differs from the Zaire strain that previously caused an outbreak, for which a vaccine is available. The situation in Ituri province, the outbreak's epicenter, is complicated by attacks from militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS), hindering surveillance and disease investigation efforts. The outbreak's origin in mining areas and high-traffic urban communities has resulted in rapid cross-border movement of people to neighboring countries.
The World Health Organization recommends immediate isolation of confirmed cases and daily monitoring of close contacts. It advises against international travel for at-risk contacts or patients for 21 days after exposure. It also advises countries bordering Congo to activate their national disaster response mechanisms and enhance screening measures along major routes and border checkpoints. However, it requests that countries refrain from closing borders or broadly restricting international trade and travel, as such measures could drive people to use unmonitored natural border crossings.