WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo a global health emergency

Health screening measures increase across DR Congo and neighbouring countries amid fears of further Ebola spread.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern following growing concerns over the spread of the virus within the region.

The outbreak, which is centred in the eastern province of Ituri, has recorded about 246 suspected cases and nearly 80 deaths, according to the WHO. Although the agency said the situation does not yet meet the criteria of a pandemic, officials warned that the outbreak could become far larger than currently detected and reported, with a significant risk of regional spread.

Health authorities said the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments. Early symptoms include fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headache and sore throat. As the illness progresses, patients may develop vomiting, diarrhoea, rashes and internal or external bleeding.

The WHO said eight laboratory-confirmed cases have so far been identified, alongside several suspected cases and deaths across the health zones of Bunia, Mongwalu and Rwampara. One confirmed case has also been reported in the capital, Kinshasa, involving a patient who recently travelled from Ituri Province.

The virus has now spread beyond DR Congo’s borders, with neighbouring Uganda confirming two Ebola cases. Ugandan authorities said a 59-year-old Congolese man who tested positive for the virus died on Thursday before his body was returned to DR Congo.

Health workers in DR Congo intensify Ebola response efforts as the WHO declares the outbreak a global health emergency.

In a statement, the WHO warned that the ongoing security challenges and humanitarian crisis in eastern DR Congo, combined with high population movement and the presence of many informal healthcare facilities, could increase the risk of further transmission across the region.

Countries bordering DR Congo have been classified as high-risk areas due to regular travel and trade connections. The WHO has advised both DR Congo and Uganda to establish emergency operation centres to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing and infection prevention measures.

The agency also recommended that confirmed patients be isolated immediately and treated until two virus-specific tests conducted at least 48 hours apart return negative results. Neighbouring countries have been urged to increase health monitoring and reporting systems to detect possible new cases quickly.

However, the WHO said countries outside the affected region should avoid closing borders or restricting travel and trade, stressing that such measures are often driven by fear rather than science.

WHO Director-General, , said there remain “significant uncertainties” regarding the true number of infections and the geographical spread of the outbreak.

Ebola is a rare but severe viral disease that spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, including blood and vomit. Symptoms can appear between two and 21 days after infection. Outbreaks often begin when humans come into contact with infected animals such as fruit bats.

While vaccines exist for the Zaire strain of Ebola, there is currently no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the latest outbreak.

By

Fung Tina Ekea