The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency of international concern following an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda [1].
The declaration follows the rapid spread of the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. This emergency status allows the WHO to coordinate an international response to contain the scale and speed of the epidemic before it reaches further regions.
Health officials report more than 500 suspected cases across the affected areas [2]. In the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, 30 cases have been confirmed [3]. Two confirmed cases were reported in Kampala, Uganda, where one person died [3].
Death tolls in the Democratic Republic of Congo vary across reports. While some sources cite at least 80 deaths [4], other reports state at least 131 [2], or as many as 134 [5].
The outbreak has already crossed international borders. One U.S. citizen tested positive for the virus and was transferred to Germany for medical treatment [3].
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, expressed urgency regarding the current situation. "I am deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic," Ghebreyesus said [5].
The WHO is currently monitoring the situation in Ituri and Kampala to prevent further transmission. The organization is focusing on rapid diagnostics, and the deployment of medical resources to the epicenter of the outbreak [1], [5].
“"I am deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic."”
The use of the Bundibugyo strain, which typically has a lower fatality rate than the Zaire strain, does not diminish the risk posed by the speed of this transmission. The fact that a U.S. citizen required evacuation to Germany highlights the potential for international spread, necessitating the WHO's emergency declaration to mobilize global surveillance and vaccine distribution.
