Ebola spreads in DRC and Uganda

Why it matters

The World Health Organization said on May 17 that an Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda had become a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The outbreak was confirmed by Congolese authorities on May 15 in Ituri province, and Ugandan authorities reported imported cases in Kampala the same day, according to WHO. Bundibugyo is a rarer Ebola species than the Zaire strain that drove several past outbreaks, and health agencies say there is no licensed vaccine or specific therapeutic for it. ### Where is the outbreak centered? Ituri province in northeastern Congo is the center of the outbreak, with clusters first identified in the Mongbwalu and Rwampara health zones, according to WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. WHO said suspected cases were also being reported across Ituri and North Kivu, underscoring the challenge of tracking transmission in an area with conflict, displacement and frequent cross-border movement. (who.int) Kampala, Uganda, recorded laboratory-confirmed cases on May 15 and May 16 involving travelers from Congo, WHO said. WHO said one of those cases was fatal and that the two confirmed Ugandan cases initially had no apparent epidemiological link to each other. (who.int) ### Why are officials emphasizing the Bundibugyo strain? Bundibugyo ebolavirus was first identified in Uganda in 2007-2008, Mongabay reported, and it is less studied than the Zaire strain targeted by currently available Ebola countermeasures. WHO said there is no licensed vaccine or specific therapeutic against Bundibugyo virus, though early supportive care can improve survival. (who.int) WHO said past Bundibugyo outbreaks had case fatality rates ranging from 30% to 50%. CDC said patients in the current outbreak presented with fever, weakness, vomiting, body pain and, in some cases, bleeding. ### What are responders facing in eastern Congo? Bunia, a city at the center of the response, has become a focal point for public-health outreach and community resistance. (news.mongabay.com) The Associated Press reported on May 26 that Red Cross volunteer Vanny Birungi said residents had pelted response workers with stones and verbal abuse during awareness campaigns. (who.int) AP reported suspected cases were nearing 1,000 as responders confronted fear, misinformation and mistrust. WHO said early tests in the outbreak were conducted for a more common Ebola type before Bundibugyo was confirmed, delaying the identification of the strain. (arabtimesonline.com) ### What have international agencies done? Africa CDC said on May 18 it had declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security and called for urgent regional coordination. The agency said the event affected both Congo and Uganda and required cross-border surveillance, laboratory support and risk communication. (arabtimesonline.com) The International Civil Aviation Organization said on May 20 that governments and airlines should follow post-Covid public-health guidance as the outbreak spread. UN News reported on May 27 that the aviation agency urged the travel sector to maintain health safety measures rather than impose blanket disruptions. (africacdc.org) ### How large is the outbreak now? UNICEF said in a flash update published on May 26 that, as of May 24, Congo and Uganda had reported 906 suspected cases, 112 confirmed cases, 223 suspected deaths and 11 confirmed deaths. UNICEF said the figures were based on WHO emergency reporting and could change as verification continued. (icao.int) WHO’s earlier outbreak notice, based on data through May 16, listed 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths in Congo, showing how quickly the reported caseload had risen over the following week. ### What comes next? WHO said response priorities include case finding, isolation, contact tracing, infection prevention and cross-border coordination between Congo and Uganda. (unicef.org) ICAO’s May 20 advisory remains in effect for airlines and governments, and UNICEF said outbreak figures were still being updated after May 24 as field verification continued. (who.int) (cdc.gov)

Key numbers

• The World Health Organization said on May 17 the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda met emergency criteria.
• As of May 24, DRC and Uganda had reported 906 suspected cases and 112 confirmed cases, UNICEF said.
• ICAO on May 20 urged governments and airlines to keep post-Covid health measures in place during the outbreak.
• The World Health Organization said on May 17 that an Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda had become a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

What happens next

• The World Health Organization said on May 17 that an Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda had become a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
• The outbreak was confirmed by Congolese authorities on May 15 in Ituri province, and Ugandan authorities reported imported cases in Kampala the same day, according to WHO.
• (who.int) Kampala, Uganda, recorded laboratory-confirmed cases on May 15 and May 16 involving travelers from Congo, WHO said.

Sources

• who.int
• who.int
• news.mongabay.com
• arabtimesonline.com
• africacdc.org
• icao.int
• unicef.org
• cdc.gov

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