Ebola outbreak worse than reported, WHO warns

The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo virus strain a global public health emergency. The agency said there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this strain of Ebola.

In a statement released on Sunday, May 17, WHO confirmed cases of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus in Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. The infections reportedly spread after infected people travelled from DR Congo.

WHO explained that although the outbreak is now considered a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), it has not yet reached the level of a pandemic under international health regulations.

The health agency warned that the outbreak could be much bigger than current official figures suggest. WHO said the high number of positive laboratory samples, increasing reports of unexplained deaths and confirmed infections in major cities show there is a serious risk of further spread across the region.

According to WHO, eight out of 13 initial laboratory samples tested positive for the virus. Cases have also been confirmed in Kampala and Kinshasa, while suspected cases and deaths continue to rise in Ituri Province.

The organisation added that insecurity, humanitarian crises, movement of people and weak healthcare systems in affected areas could make the outbreak harder to control. WHO also stressed that unlike the more common Ebola-Zaire strain, there are no approved vaccines or treatments specifically designed for the Bundibugyo strain.

As of May 16, health officials had recorded eight confirmed Ebola cases, 246 suspected infections and 80 suspected deaths across at least three health zones in Ituri Province, including Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu.

The outbreak crossed borders after two confirmed Ebola cases, including one death, were reported in Kampala between May 15 and 16. WHO said both infected persons had travelled from DR Congo and were not linked to each other.

Another Ebola case was also confirmed in Kinshasa involving a person who recently returned from Ituri Province.

WHO raised concern over possible hospital-related transmission after at least four healthcare workers reportedly died from symptoms linked to viral haemorrhagic fever.

The agency said there are still major uncertainties about the true scale of the outbreak because health officials are struggling to trace connections between many reported cases.

Bundibugyo ebolavirus is one of the rarest Ebola strains known to infect humans. It has previously caused only two recorded outbreaks — one in Uganda in 2007 and another in eastern DR Congo in 2012.

Most Ebola vaccines and treatments available today were developed to fight the more common Zaire Ebola strain, especially after the deadly West African Ebola outbreak between 2014 and 2016, which killed more than 11,000 people.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced more than 12 Ebola outbreaks over the past 50 years and is considered one of the world’s most experienced countries in handling Ebola outbreaks.