The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a “public health emergency of international concern” after more than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths were reported.
In a social media post on Sunday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency, but neighboring countries face a high risk of further spread.
The health agency confirmed the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus (BVD), a rare strain of Ebola with no approved treatment or vaccine. Although there have been more than 20 Ebola outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda, this is only the third time BVD has been documented.
WHO said the outbreak may be much larger, given the high positivity rate among initial test samples and the growing number of suspected cases.
On Friday, officials first reported the virus spreading in Ituri Province in eastern DRC, which borders Uganda and South Sudan. By Saturday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDCP) reported 336 suspected cases and 87 deaths.
Uganda on Saturday confirmed a case believed to have been imported from the DRC, saying the patient died at a hospital in the capital Kampala. WHO later confirmed a second case had also been reported in Kampala, noting the two cases appear unrelated and both patients came from the DRC.
According to WHO, the DRC accounts for all suspected cases except the two reported in neighboring Uganda.
The UN health agency said the outbreak in the DRC and Uganda poses a public health risk to neighboring countries, recommending that nations activate national emergency and disaster management mechanisms, conduct screening at border crossings and major domestic routes.
WHO advised immediate isolation of confirmed cases, restricted domestic movement only, and no international travel until 21 days after exposure.
The agency urged countries not to close borders or restrict travel and trade, as this could lead to unmonitored cross-border movement of people and goods.
According to ACDCP, the often-fatal and highly contagious virus causes fever, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea, and spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated objects, or the bodies of those who died from the disease.
