A new Ebola epidemic has hit the northeastern province of Ituri in the Congo. The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Friday, May 15 that some 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths have been reported, mainly in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones.
“For laboratory-confirmed cases, four deaths have been reported. Suspected cases have also been reported in Bunia, pending confirmation,” the African CDC said on Friday.
It is the 17th recorded outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since the virus was first identified in 1976, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
The Ebola virus is highly contagious and can be transmitted to humans from wild animals. It is a serious and often fatal disease. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and occasionally internal and external bleeding
It is spread by direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated materials, or persons who have died of the disease.
The WHO describes Ebola as being spread through direct contact with bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen, and contaminated surfaces or materials such as bedding and clothing contaminated with these fluids.
The virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now Congo. The first outbreaks appeared in remote villages in central Africa near tropical rainforests.
What you should know about the new Ebola outbreak in the Congo
1. An unusual strain of ‘Non-Zaire ebolavirus’: The African CDC says preliminary laboratory results from the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) detected the Ebola virus in 13 of 20 samples tested.
“Results indicate that it is non-Zaire Ebola virus, with sequencing underway to further characterize the strain. Results are expected within the next 24 hours with support from the African CDC,” declaration read.
The Zaire strain of Ebola has been prominent in Congo’s past outbreaks, including a 2018-2020 outbreak in the eastern region that killed more than 1,000 people.
2. Total number of deaths and suspected cases: Authorities said as of the latest update, about 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths have been reported, mainly in Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones. Among the laboratory-confirmed cases, four deaths were reported. Suspected cases have also been reported in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, pending confirmation.
Meanwhile, the WHO said it was aware that L’Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, INRB, had confirmed 13 cases of Ebola in Kinshasa.
Located in the remote eastern part of Congo with a poor road network, Ituri is more than 1,000 kilometers (620 mi) from the capital, Kinshasa.
3. Risk of spread: Africa CDC said it was concerned about the risk of further spread due to the urban context of Bunia and Rwampara, intensive population movement, mining-related mobility in Mongwal, insecurity in affected areas, gaps in contact lists, infection prevention and control issues, and the proximity of affected areas to Uganda and South Sudan.
4. Answer Key: Africa CDC is preparing support across key response pillars, including coordination through emergency operations mechanisms, digital surveillance and data management, cross-border preparedness, laboratory coordination, infection prevention and control, risk communication, and community engagement.
In addition, the African CDC will work with partners to assess the availability and appropriateness of medical countermeasures once sequencing results confirm the exact species of Ebola virus.
5. Urgent High Level Meeting: Africa CDC announced the convening of an urgent high-level coordination meeting on 15 May with health authorities from the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan. The meeting will focus on priorities for immediate response, cross-border coordination, surveillance, laboratory support, infection prevention and control, risk communication, safe and dignified burials, and resource mobilization.
It will also include key partners including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, FAO, United States CDC, European CDC, China CDC, Canadian Public Health Agency, Gilead Sciences, Merck & Co., Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Roche, Abbott Laboratories, Cepheid, BioNTech, Moderna, CEPIères, Biologics, Evotec, Biologics IFRC, World Bank, African Development Bank, Afreximbank, Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust and other partners.
6. Appeal to the public: The Africa CDC urged communities in affected and at-risk areas to follow the guidelines of national health authorities, report symptoms immediately, avoid direct contact with suspected cases and support response teams working to protect communities.
7. WHO funds: WHO chief Tedros said he had released $500,000 from the WHO’s contingency fund for emergencies to immediately support the response. “We have deployed medical supplies and protective equipment for infection prevention and control to Bunia, the capital of Ituri province,” he said.
8. 2,000 doses of vaccine: During last year’s Ebola outbreak in Congo, the World Health Organization said the country had stockpiles of drugs and about 2,000 doses of the vaccine. However, the vaccine is aimed at Ebola Zaire, he said.
9. Will the vaccine be beneficial? Dr. Gabriel Nsakala, a professor of public health who has been involved in past responses to Ebola outbreaks in Congo, told the Associated Press that treatment for viral infections like Ebola is often focused on symptoms, and that vaccine efforts will become clearer once the strain is confirmed in a new outbreak.
10. Logistical and financial challenges: Congo is Africa’s second largest country by area and often faces logistical challenges in responding to disease outbreaks due to poor roads and long distances.
During last year’s outbreak, which lasted three months, the WHO initially faced significant problems in supplying vaccines, which took a week after the outbreak was confirmed, the Associated Press reported.
Financing was also problematic. During last year’s outbreak, health professionals were concerned about the impact of recent funding cuts in the US.
The US supported the response to the past Ebola outbreak in the Congo, including in 2021 when the US Agency for International Development provided up to $11.5 million to support efforts across Africa.
