DRC and Uganda declared global Ebola health emergency by WHO officials

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighboring Uganda a “public health emergency of international concern”. The declaration follows nearly 90 deaths attributed to the virus, which originated in eastern DRC’s Ituri province. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare variant with no approved vaccine or treatment.

According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the outbreak began in Mongwalu, a mining area, and has since spread to Uganda, where two laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported. One death has occurred in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.

The WHO stopped short of declaring a pandemic, citing that the outbreak did not meet the necessary criteria. However, the agency advised neighboring countries against closing borders or restricting trade, and urged them to activate emergency-management systems, strengthen cross-border screening, and isolate confirmed cases immediately.

As of Saturday, 88 deaths and 336 suspected cases have been reported in the DRC. The Africa CDC warned that population movements, weak healthcare infrastructure, and violence by armed groups in Ituri could complicate containment efforts.

The WHO’s declaration is the organization’s second-highest alert level under international health regulations. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that neighboring countries were considered at high risk for further spread due to population mobility, trade, and travel linkages.

Health authorities have reported symptoms of Ebola, including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, intense weakness, muscle pain, and internal and external bleeding. The incubation period can last two to 21 days. The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, which has a high lethality rate, according to DRC Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba.

The WHO recommended daily monitoring of contacts and advised exposed individuals to avoid international travel for 21 days.

Source: Al Jazeera