In Ituri province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), an Ebola outbreak has claimed 65 lives, according to African health officials. To date, 246 suspected cases of the deadly hemorrhagic virus have been reported, primarily in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, with a few suspected cases in nearby Bunia.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has expressed concern over the risk of wider spread, particularly in mining towns where constant population movement complicates disease control. DR Congo's national laboratory detected the Ebola virus in 13 of 20 samples tested.
Notably, Africa CDC said preliminary tests suggest the current outbreak may be caused by a different strain, not the Zaire strain common in the country, for which a vaccine exists. Full genome sequencing results are expected within 24 hours.
Since the Ebola virus was first identified in DR Congo in 1976, the country has experienced 16 outbreaks. Experts, such as Dr. Michael Head from the University of Southampton (UK), note a combination of factors contributes to these frequent outbreaks, including close contact with animal reservoirs, mainly bats but also primates, rural-urban population movement, tropical climate, and extensive rainforest cover.
On June 14, Africa CDC convened an emergency meeting with authorities from DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, the World Health Organization (WHO), and pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, emphasized: "Given the high population movement between affected areas and neighboring countries, rapid coordination at the regional level is absolutely essential."
Ebola is a severe disease with a high mortality rate. The virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids such as blood or vomit of an infected person, or through contact with the bodies of deceased individuals, for example during burial preparations.
