DR Congo Ebola Outbreak Risk Elevated to 'Very High' by World Health Organisation
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has escalated its assessment of the public health risk posed by the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, raising it from 'high' to 'very high' nationally. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO's head, stated on Friday that the risk across the wider African region is now deemed 'high', though it remains 'low' globally.
This particular strain, Bundibugyo, is a rarer form of Ebola with an approximate fatality rate of one-third among those infected. Currently, no proven vaccine is available. The outbreak, centred in the DR Congo, has resulted in 177 suspected deaths and 750 suspected cases to date. Dr Tedros confirmed 82 cases and seven deaths in the DR Congo specifically.
Meanwhile, scientists at Oxford University in the UK are developing a new Bundibugyo vaccine, with clinical trials potentially commencing within two to three months. The efficacy of this vaccine is yet to be determined, requiring further animal research and human trials. Another experimental vaccine is also under development, but it is not expected to be ready for testing for another six to nine months.
Dr Tedros noted the situation in neighbouring Uganda, where two confirmed cases of the Bundibugyo species and one death have been reported, is 'stable'. Both Ugandan cases involved individuals who had travelled from the DR Congo. Ebola is a severe viral disease, typically transmitted from animals, often fruit bats, to humans through the handling or consumption of infected wildlife.
On Sunday, the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern regarding the outbreak, though not at a pandemic level. Dr Tedros underscored the critical need to build trust within affected communities, warning that ongoing violence and insecurity in the conflict-ridden eastern DR Congo are obstructing efforts to control the outbreak. This caution followed an incident where angry relatives reportedly set fire to a hospital after health workers declined to release a patient's body due to contamination risks.
