Ebola Outbreak Spreading Faster Than Anticipated, WHO Warns
People living near the epicenter of an Ebola outbreak that has claimed 131 lives have expressed their fear to BBC News, as a World Health Organization (WHO) representative warned that cases might be spreading more rapidly than initially believed.
One man in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province, the outbreak’s epicenter, stated that infected individuals were dying “very fast” and added, “Ebola has tortured us.”
Officials reported over 513 suspected cases in DR Congo as of Tuesday, with one fatality in neighboring Uganda.
Dr. Anne Ancia of the WHO informed the BBC that the more the agency investigates the outbreak, the clearer it becomes that cases have disseminated to other regions.
Modeling released Monday by the London-based MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis suggested “substantial” under-detection, indicating that more than 1,000 cases might have already occurred. The study implied that the current outbreak is “larger than currently ascertained” and its “true magnitude remains uncertain.”
A man identifying himself as Bigboy told BBC News that people are “really scared” and are taking protective measures. He mentioned locals are washing hands with clean water but wished for access to other protective supplies like face masks.
Another Ituri resident, Alfred Giza, said the community is aware of the threat and awaiting face masks, but he wouldn’t know what to do if a family member or friend contracted the disease.
The Red Cross cautioned that Ebola can escalate quickly if cases are not identified early, communities lack information, and health systems are overwhelmed, noting that “we are seeing all those conditions” in the current outbreak.
On Tuesday, DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi called for “calm” and urged citizens to remain vigilant after a crisis meeting on Monday evening.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who declared the outbreak an international emergency last week, expressed deep concern about the “scale and speed of the epidemic.”
It is feared the outbreak might have been ongoing for several weeks before its detection on April 24.
No Vaccine for Current Ebola Strain
There is no vaccine for the specific strain of Ebola virus driving the latest surge in cases, though the WHO is evaluating other drugs for potential protection.
Speaking to BBC Newsday, Ancia described DR Congo’s Ituri province as a “very unsecured area with lots of movement of population,” complicating the agency’s investigative and control efforts.
She added, “The more we are investigating this outbreak, the more we realise that it has already disseminated at least a little bit across border and also in other provinces.” The outbreak has also reached South Kivu province, which has long suffered from a humanitarian crisis.
A case has also been reported in Goma, eastern DR Congo’s largest city with a population of approximately 850,000, currently under the control of Rwandan-backed rebels.
High levels of insecurity in several provinces lead to frequent population movement, increasing the virus’s risk and spread, she explained.
Several African nations are implementing precautions, including tightening border screenings and preparing health facilities. Neighboring Rwanda has closed its borders with DR Congo, and Uganda has advised against hugging and shaking hands.
An American citizen, believed to be missionary group doctor Peter Stafford, is being evacuated from DR Congo after developing symptoms over the weekend. Germany’s health ministry confirmed a US citizen was being transported to the country for treatment. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to evacuate at least six other exposed Americans.
WHO and other agencies are collaborating with governments and communities to halt the virus’s spread, urging residents to follow preventative measures and report any symptoms to the nearest health facility.
Understanding Ebola
Ebola is a viral disease initially causing flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and tiredness. As it progresses, vomiting and diarrhea develop, potentially leading to organ failure. Some patients may experience internal and external bleeding. The virus spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids like blood or vomit.
The Bundibugyo strain, responsible for this outbreak, is rare, having caused only two previous outbreaks, killing about a third of those infected.
From 2014 to 2016, over 28,600 people in West Africa were infected by Ebola in the largest outbreak since its discovery in 1976. That outbreak was caused by the Zaire strain, for which an approved vaccine exists.
The disease spread to various countries in West Africa and beyond, including Guinea, Sierra Leone, the US, UK, and Italy, resulting in 11,325 deaths.
- Ebola is a rare, severe, and often deadly viral disease.
- The current strain identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo is caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
- Initial symptoms are sudden and flu-like: fever, headache, and tiredness.
- The largest recorded outbreak was in 2014-16, infecting 28,600 people in West Africa.
- The WHO states there are no approved drugs or vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
- Vaccines are available for the Zaire strain of Ebola.
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