More than 1,000 people have died amid a fast-growing Ebola outbreak, with a London hospital isolating a UK resident who returned from DR Congo. The patient has not been diagnosed with Ebola, but doctors are taking precautions.
Key Ebola Symptoms
Ebola is a rare but serious infection typically found in parts of Africa. It is caught from wild animals and spreads person-to-person via infected body fluids. It has never spread person-to-person in the UK. Symptoms appear two to 21 days after infection and include high temperature, extreme tiredness, headache, being sick, diarrhoea, tummy pain, skin rash, yellowing of skin and eyes, blood in poo, lots of bruises, bleeding from ears, eyes, nose or mouth, muscle pain, sore throat, and bleeding from nose, gums or vagina.
Fastest-Growing Outbreak
There are more than 2,000 cases in one province of DR Congo alone. Suspected cases have emerged in two more provinces, including around Kisangani, one of the country's largest cities. The World Health Organisation said 80% of new cases were linked to unknown chains of transmission, making it harder to isolate cases. The outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo strain, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments.
Feared Ebola Case in London
A UK resident who had been working with an organisation supporting the Ebola outbreak response in DR Congo is isolated at a London hospital. They were evacuated on a chartered flight. Richard Pebody, director for epidemic and emerging infections at UKHSA, said: “The risk to the general public remains low. This individual has been transferred out of an abundance of caution, and we’re pleased they remain well.” The last UK Ebola case was in 2015. Outside DR Congo, 20 cases have been identified in Uganda and one in France, with two deaths in Uganda.
