WHO declares global emergency over rare Ebola strain

An outbreak of Ebola in Congo and Uganda was declared a public health emergency of international concern today after more than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths.

In a post on X, the WHO said the outbreak does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency like COVID-19, and advised against the closure of international borders.

But authorities have confirmed the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare variant of the Ebola disease that has no approved therapeutics or vaccines.

Although more than 20 Ebola outbreaks have taken place in Congo and Uganda, this is only the third time the Bundibugyo virus has been reported.

Officials first reported the spread of the disease in Congo’s eastern province of Ituri, close to Uganda and South Sudan, on Friday.

On Saturday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported 336 suspected cases and 87 deaths.

Congo accounts for all except two of the cases, both of which were reported in neighbouring Uganda, the WHO said.

Uganda on Saturday confirmed one case it said was imported from Congo, and said the patient died at a hospital in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, and the WHO said that a second case has been reported in Kampala.

The two cases had no apparent links to each other and both patients had travelled from Congo, it added.

The Bundibugyo virus was first detected in Uganda’s Bundibugyo district during a 2007-2008 outbreak that infected 149 people and killed 37 people.

What is Ebola?

The WHO states that Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe and often fatal illness in humans.

It is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.

The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50 per cent. Case fatality rates have varied from 25 per cent to 90 per cent in past outbreaks.

Ebola spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes).

A person infected with Ebola cannot spread the disease until they develop symptoms.

Good outbreak control relies on applying a package of interventions, namely case management, infection prevention and control practices, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory service, safe and dignified burials and social mobilisation.

Early supportive care with rehydration and symptomatic treatment improves survival. There is no licensed treatment proven to neutralise the virus, but a range of blood, immunological and drug therapies are under development.

The WHO advises using gloves when dealing with people infected with Ebola and always practising safe sex.