LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern after new cases linked to the Bundibugyo virus strain spread across both countries.
The WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the decision on Sunday after consultations with authorities in the DRC and Uganda.
In a statement, the organization said, “The Director-General of WHO, after having consulted the States Parties where the event is known to be currently occurring, is hereby determining that the Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, but does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency.”
Health officials reported that by Saturday, the DRC had recorded eight laboratory-confirmed Ebola cases, 246 suspected infections and 80 suspected deaths in Ituri Province.
The affected areas include Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu health zones.
Also, Uganda confirmed two Ebola cases in Kampala, including one death.
Health authorities said the infected individuals recently travelled from the DRC. Another confirmed case was also detected in Kinshasa involving a returnee from Ituri Province.
The WHO further revealed that at least four healthcare workers had died under conditions linked to viral haemorrhagic fever.
According to the agency, the deaths have raised “concerns regarding healthcare-associated transmission, gaps in infection prevention and control measures, and the potential for amplification within health facilities.”
Ghebreyesus warned that the outbreak could be much larger than the indicated current reports due to rising suspected cases, deaths and positive test results.
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“The high positivity rate of the initial samples collected, the confirmation of cases in both Kampala and Kinshasa, the increasing trends in syndromic reporting of suspected cases and clusters of deaths across the province of Ituri all point towards a potentially much larger outbreak than what is currently being detected and reported, with significant local and regional risk of spread,” he said.
In addition, the WHO chief identified insecurity, humanitarian challenges, population movement and the widespread use of informal healthcare centres as major factors increasing the risk of transmission.
He compared the current situation to conditions that fueled the deadly 2018-2019 Ebola outbreak in the same region.
The WHO also expressed concern over the lack of approved treatments or vaccines specifically designed for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
Ghebreyesus noted that “unlike for Ebola-zaire strains, there are currently no approved Bundibugyo virus-specific therapeutics or vaccines,” making the outbreak more dangerous.
The organization therefore warned that neighbouring countries sharing borders with the DRC face a high risk of infection spread because of travel, trade activities and uncertainty surrounding the outbreak.
To contain the virus, WHO urged the DRC and Uganda to activate emergency response systems, increase surveillance, strengthen contact tracing efforts and establish specialized treatment centres close to affected communities.
Furthermore, the agency recommended exit screening at airports, seaports and major border crossings.
It also directed that confirmed Ebola patients should not travel until they receive two negative test results taken at least 48 hours apart.
On travel restrictions, the WHO strongly advised against border closures.
The statement added, “No country should close its borders or place any restrictions on travel and trade. Such measures are usually implemented out of fear and have no basis in science. They push the movement of people and goods to informal border crossings that are not monitored, thus increasing the chances of the spread of disease.”
Ultimately, WHO called for clinical trials on potential vaccines and treatments while recommending that mass gatherings be postponed until the outbreak is brought under control.
Ghebreyesus added that an Emergency Committee would soon be convened to review and strengthen temporary measures issued alongside the declaration.
