The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighbouring Uganda a “public health emergency of international concern” after the disease claimed nearly 90 lives.
The outbreak, which began in the eastern DRC province of Ituri, involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
Health officials warned that the situation poses a significant regional threat after infections spread beyond eastern Congo into Uganda, while linked cases were also reported in Kinshasa, the DRC’s capital.
WHO declares International Emergency as Ebola spreads in DRC and Uganda. Photo: Courtesy.
Despite the growing concern, the WHO stopped short of classifying the outbreak as a pandemic, saying the situation had not yet met the threshold required for such a declaration.
The agency also advised countries against imposing border closures or trade restrictions.
Africa’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said the outbreak was first identified in Ituri province near the borders of Uganda and South Sudan.
As of Saturday, authorities had recorded 88 deaths and 336 suspected cases linked to the outbreak.
Health officials revealed that the outbreak originated in Mongwalu, a busy mining town where infected individuals later travelled to other areas seeking treatment, contributing to the spread of the virus.
Africa CDC warned that ongoing population movement, weak healthcare systems and insecurity caused by armed groups in Ituri could make containment efforts more difficult.
According to DRC Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba, the outbreak’s first known patient was a nurse who arrived at a health facility in Bunia on April 24 exhibiting Ebola-like symptoms.
Meanwhile, Uganda has confirmed two laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases connected to travellers arriving from the DRC, including one fatality reported in the capital, Kampala.
Ebola is a deadly viral disease spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and contaminated materials.
Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and bleeding in severe cases.
