WHO Reports Rising Ebola Cases and Deaths
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a total of 600 suspected Ebola cases and 139 suspected deaths, with expectations that these numbers will continue to increase due to delays in virus detection.
Fifty-one cases have been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), where the outbreak began, and two cases have been confirmed in neighboring Uganda, according to WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday.
Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Dr Tedros stated that the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, likely began "a couple of months ago."
On Sunday, the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern but clarified that it does not constitute a pandemic.
"WHO assesses the risk of the epidemic as high at the national and regional levels and low at the global level," he explained.
Following a meeting on Tuesday, the WHO's emergency committee concluded that the situation was "not a pandemic emergency."
The 51 confirmed cases in DR Congo are located in the eastern Ituri province, which is the epicenter of the outbreak, and the North Kivu province. The two confirmed cases in Uganda's capital, Kampala, involved individuals who had traveled from DR Congo.
"We know the scale of the epidemic in DRC is much larger," Dr Tedros added.
Outbreak Details and Affected Areas
The first known case was a nurse who developed symptoms and died on 24 April in Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri.
The nurse's body was repatriated to Mongwalu, one of two gold-mining towns where the majority of cases have been reported.
Four areas in Ituri province have been affected by the outbreak: Mongwalu, Bunia, Rwampara, and Nyakunde.
In North Kivu province, cases have been reported in Goma, a city controlled by rebel groups and the largest in eastern DR Congo, as well as in Butembo.
Challenges of the Bundibugyo Ebola Species
DR Congo is currently experiencing its 17th Ebola outbreak. However, the Bundibugyo species, which has not been seen for over a decade, presents unique challenges.
Bundibugyo has caused only two previous outbreaks, with a fatality rate of about one-third of those infected.
There is no approved vaccine specifically for Bundibugyo, though experimental vaccines are under development. It is possible that a vaccine developed for the Zaire species, which DR Congo has encountered multiple times, may provide some protection.
Additionally, there are no antiviral drugs targeting Bundibugyo, complicating treatment efforts.
Eastern DR Congo is also affected by years of conflict, which adds further difficulties in managing the outbreak.
For more news from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com.
Follow updates on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa, or on Instagram at bbcafrica.
