WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency
The WHO declared an Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a public health emergency due to the Bundibugyo strain, which lacks specific treatments. The outbreak, the DRC's 17th, has led to eight confirmed cases and 80 suspected deaths, with high risk of international spread.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, does not meet pandemic criteria but poses a high risk of spread to neighboring countries.
This is the DRC's 17th Ebola outbreak since 1976. The Bundibugyo strain is particularly concerning as there are no approved specific therapeutics or vaccines, unlike for Ebola-Zaire strains. Amanda Rojek, Associate Professor of Health Emergencies at the University of Oxford, noted the lack of proven countermeasures for Bundibugyo.
Confirmed cases are in the DRC and Uganda, with the DRC most severely affected. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is coordinating with South Sudan to monitor cross-border activity. On Sunday, the WHO reported eight lab-confirmed cases, 80 suspected deaths, and 246 suspected infections. An additional case was confirmed in Goma, DRC, and a second case in Uganda. The WHO cautioned that the true number of infected persons and geographic spread remains uncertain.