A new Ebola outbreak has been labelled "concerning" by health experts, who have disclosed that there are currently "no vaccines or treatments available" for the lethal virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighbouring Uganda a public health emergency of international concern after more than 80 fatalities were confirmed.
Scale of the Outbreak
The WHO reported over 300 suspected cases but clarified that the outbreak does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency. Nonetheless, it cautioned that the situation could escalate into a "potentially much larger outbreak than what is currently being detected and reported." As of the latest figures, 88 deaths have been recorded, with the majority occurring in the DRC.
Virus Strain Raises Alarm
Health authorities have identified the rare Bundibugyo virus as the cause of this outbreak. Dr Anne Cori, Associate Professor in Infectious Disease Modelling at Imperial College London, explained why this strain is particularly worrying. "There are currently no vaccines or treatments available for this particular virus," she said. "There is limited scientific evidence on this Ebola species as there are only two historical outbreaks recorded. These point to a highly lethal disease with an estimated 1 in 3 cases dying."
Spread and Response
The WHO confirmed a laboratory-confirmed case in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, approximately 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from the outbreak's epicentre in the eastern province of Ituri, indicating possible wider spread. Rwanda has tightened screening along its border with the DRC as a precaution, despite the WHO advising against international border closures.
Two cases have also been reported in Uganda, reinforcing the regional significance of the outbreak. Dr Cori noted that the WHO's declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) will help mobilise and coordinate resources to mitigate the epidemic.
Expert Analysis
Professor Emma Thompson, Clinical Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Glasgow, outlined three reasons for concern. "First, reports that initial GeneXpert Ebola testing was negative suggest that the outbreak may have gone undetected for some time, with early diagnostic blind spots delaying recognition. Second, infections in healthcare workers are a serious warning sign in any filovirus outbreak because they indicate unrecognised transmission in healthcare settings and gaps in infection prevention and control. Third, the identification of cases in Kinshasa and Kampala, hundreds of kilometres from Ituri province, shows that the virus has already moved through human mobility networks before full containment was in place."
Despite these concerns, Dr Cori emphasised that this strain is not necessarily a global threat, as "Ebola is not an airborne virus. It is transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected individual, which requires relatively close contact and makes it harder to spread globally."
Historical Context
Although more than 20 Ebola outbreaks have occurred in the DRC and Uganda, this is only the third time the Bundibugyo virus has been detected. The DRC accounts for all but two of the cases, both of which were reported in Uganda, according to the WHO.
