WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in DRC and
Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
World Health Organization has declared the Ebola
outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a Public Health
Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) following the spread of the rare
Bundibugyo strain of Ebola across border regions.
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The latest Ebola outbreak
originated in Ituri Province of eastern DRC and later spread to Uganda through
cross-border movement, with confirmed cases reported in Kampala.
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The outbreak is caused by
the Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV) strain, first identified in Uganda in 2007,
for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently exists.
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The outbreak zone is
affected by armed conflict, displacement, porous borders and weak healthcare
infrastructure, complicating containment efforts and raising concerns over
wider transmission.
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WHO has declared the
outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) to
strengthen global coordination, surveillance and emergency response measures.
Ebola Disease
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Ebola disease (EVD/EBOD)
is a rare but severe zoonotic viral disease caused by viruses belonging to the
Orthoebolavirus genus of the Filoviridae family.
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The disease was first
identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in present-day DRC.
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Fruit bats are considered
the natural hosts of the virus.
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The disease spreads to
humans through contact with infected animals and later through direct contact
with bodily fluids of infected persons.
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Human-to-human
transmission occurs through contact with blood, vomit, saliva, urine, faeces,
semen or contaminated surfaces/materials.
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A person infected with
Ebola becomes contagious only after symptoms appear.
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The incubation period
ranges from 2–21 days, with symptoms usually appearing within 8–10 days after
exposure.
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The average fatality rate
is around 50%, though it varies depending on the strain and quality of
treatment.
Types of Ebola Viruses Causing Human
Disease
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Ebola virus (EBOV) →
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
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Sudan virus (SUDV) →
Sudan Virus Disease (SVD)
¨ Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) → Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD)
¨ Taï Forest virus
