WHO has declared the outbreak of Ebola in DRC, Uganda a global emergency: What you need to know | Narrative Articles

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring Uganda a “public health emergency” after the virus killed nearly 90 people.

The outbreak, which originated in the eastern part of Ituri region in the DRC, also involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. The difference is there is no approved vaccine or treatment.

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Health officials say the epidemic is in serious danger because the disease has already been found in Uganda and the cases related to the epidemic have reached the capital of Congo, Kinshasa.

The WHO, however, stopped declaring an epidemic, saying it did not meet the criteria. The United Nations advised countries not to close borders or restrict trade.

Here’s what we know:

What do we know about this epidemic?

The outbreak was first reported in the Ituri region of northeastern DRC on Friday near the border with Uganda and South Sudan, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). As of Saturday, the center reported 88 dead and 336 suspects.

The epidemic started in Mongwalu, an area with many mines. After that the infected people moved out of the area, sought treatment in other places and spread the disease. The Africa CDC has warned that the movement of people, weak health facilities and violence by armed groups in Ituri could hamper conservation efforts.

The patient who caused the disease was a nurse who arrived at a hospital in the Ituri capital, Bunia, on April 24, showing Ebola-like symptoms, said DRC Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba.

Meanwhile, Uganda has recorded two laboratory-confirmed cases linked to travelers who have returned from the DRC, including one death in the capital, Kampala.

“The number of cases and deaths we are seeing in such a short period of time, including the spread of multiple health zones and crossing borders, is very concerning,” warned Trish Newport with the medical aid organization Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French name MSF.

“In Ituri, many people are already struggling to access health care and are insecure, and urgent action must be taken to prevent the spread of the epidemic,” he added.

What is Ebola?

Ebola is a deadly and deadly disease that was first identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the DRC. It is believed that the virus originated in wild animals, especially bats, before it spread to humans.

The disease is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids such as blood, vomit, semen or other contaminated materials, including bedding and clothing. People become contagious when symptoms appear.

Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, severe weakness, muscle pain and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. The breastfeeding period lasts from two to 21 days.

The outbreak was caused by the Bundibugyo strain, which was first identified in Uganda in 2007.

It has a “very high risk, which can reach 50 percent”, Kamba said on Saturday. “The Bundibugyo strain has no vaccine, no specific treatment,” he added.

What does the WHO declaration mean?

The WHO’s declaration of a “public health emergency” is the organization’s second level of protection under international health law.

The agency confirmed that the epidemic does not meet the crisis of an emergency, which is the highest level that has been introduced after COVID-19. However, the Director-General of the WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the neighboring countries “are considered to be at the highest risk of transmission due to the movement of people, trade and travel, and the uncertainty of epidemics”.

The organization urged neighboring countries to introduce emergency management measures, strengthen border checks and exclude confirmed cases immediately. The WHO also recommended daily monitoring of contacts and recommended that people at risk avoid foreign travel for 21 days.

At the same time, the WHO also warned against border closures, saying restrictions could encourage undetected crossings and limit efforts.

“There is great uncertainty about the exact number of people infected and the spread associated with this event at this time,” the WHO said.

“In addition, there is little understanding of the links between epidemics and known or suspected cases.”

What do we know about diabetes?

The DRC has had at least 17 cases of Ebola since the virus was first discovered in 1976, making it one of the worst affected countries by the disease.

The worst Ebola outbreak in the DRC took place from 2018 to 2020 and killed nearly 2,300 people. Other cases have also been reported in Uganda. An outbreak last year killed at least 34 people before it was declared over in December.

Ebola has killed nearly 15,000 people since its discovery, almost entirely in Africa.

What other challenges does the DRC face?

The conflict involving several rebel groups could pose a major challenge to the response to the virus, including in Ituri region.

“Continuing insecurity, poverty problems, population density, urban or limited transportation and many medical facilities increase the risk of transmission, as seen in the large outbreak of Ebola disease in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces in 2018-19,” WHO warned.

This month, militants killed at least 69 people in the northeast, security officials said.

An area with high salt content face The ongoing insurgency of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group made up of former Ugandan rebels who pledged allegiance to ISIL (ISIS), and the Rwandan-backed March 23 Movement, better known as M23.

For more than three decades, eastern DRC, known for its rich economy, has been plagued by conflict as several armed groups compete for control of its mining areas.