Congo warns new Ebola outbreak poses high fatality, spread risk: Minister
Kinshasa, May 16
Roger Kamba, health minister of Congo, warned Saturday that the newly declared Ebola outbreak in the eastern province of Ituri involves the Bundibugyo strain, which has a high fatality rate and carries a significant risk of further spread.
"The Bundibugyo strain has no vaccine and no specific treatment," Kamba told a press briefing in the capital Kinshasa, adding that the strain has "a very high lethality rate which can reach 50 per cent."
Congo declared a new Ebola outbreak in Ituri on Friday, the 17th, recorded in the country since 1976. According to the health ministry, 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths had been reported as of May 15, including four deaths among confirmed positive cases. The National Institute for Biomedical Research has confirmed Ebola virus disease caused by the Bundibugyo strain in tested samples.
Kamba said health teams had been deployed to trace contacts of confirmed cases and contain the disease in Ituri, neighbouring provinces, and border areas. Uganda confirmed Friday an "imported case" involving a Congolese national who died in Kampala, Xinhua news agency reported.
"This is a disease transmitted from human to human. The affected health zone of Mongwalu is a commercial area marked by intense mobility, exposing North Kivu, Tshopo, Uganda, and South Sudan," he said.
The minister said the Bundibugyo strain differs from the Zaire strain in some symptoms. It often begins with fever, while hemorrhagic signs appear later. Health authorities have urged residents to promptly report any suspected case involving symptoms such as fever, vomiting, fatigue, or bleeding.
"The Bundibugyo strain has no vaccine or specific treatment. But for the response, the DRC is ready and has the capacities, expertise, and means to face the outbreak," he said.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced the activation of immediate response measures following the outbreak.
The agency also expressed serious concerns over the risk of further spread, citing the intense population movement, mining-related mobility, insecurity in affected zones, gaps in contact listing, infection prevention and control challenges, as well as the proximity of affected areas to neighbouring countries.
The Africa CDC chief said the agency is working with the two affected countries, South Sudan, and partners to strengthen surveillance, preparedness, and response to swiftly contain transmission.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's 2025, and we still have no vaccine for this strain? That's disappointing. The fact that it's spreading in a mining area with high mobility makes it even more dangerous. Africa CDC is doing the right thing by activating immediate response, but we need global cooperation. COVID taught us viruses don't respect borders.
80 deaths out of 246 cases is heartbreaking. Those are real families losing loved ones. I'm glad DRC has experience dealing with Ebola outbreaks from before, but a different strain with no treatment is a big challenge. India should offer whatever help we can - our scientists are good at vaccine development, maybe we can collaborate with Africa on this.
The fact that it's already spread to Uganda shows this is serious. Symptoms start with fever and later bleeding - that means early detection is difficult. We really need to support the local health workers who are risking their lives. Also concerns about political instability in the region making response harder.
This news is scary. We just finished dealing with COVID, and now another deadly virus. But honestly, I feel for the people of DRC - they've been through so many outbreaks. The minister says they're ready, but 246 suspected cases means it might already be spreading silently. I hope WHO and other agencies mobilize vaccines and treatments from other strains at least for emergency use.
As a medical professional, I'm concerned about the lack of specific treatment. Bundibugyo strain is rare and less studied. The high mobility in mining areas makes contact tracing very difficult. DRC's experience will help, but they need global support for surveillance, lab capacity
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