The Ebola outbreak may be spreading faster than initially believed, a WHO doctor has warned. People living near the epicenter of the deadly Ebola outbreak have expressed their fear to the BBC, as the World Health Organization (WHO) cautioned that cases might be spreading more rapidly than first thought.<\/p>\n
A man in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s north-eastern Ituri province, the outbreak’s epicenter, stated that infected individuals were dying “very fast” and added, “Ebola has tortured us.” The virus has claimed 131 lives in the DR Congo, with officials suspecting over 513 cases in the country. One fatality has also been reported in neighboring Uganda.<\/p>\n
Dr. Anne Ancia of the WHO informed the BBC that as the UN agency investigates the outbreak further, it becomes clearer that cases have spread to other areas. Modeling released Monday by the London-based MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis suggested “substantial” under-detection and could not rule out that there might already be over 1,000 cases. The study indicated that the current outbreak is “larger than currently ascertained” and its “true magnitude remains uncertain.”<\/p>\n
A man identifying himself as Bigboy told BBC News that people are “really scared” and are taking measures to protect themselves. He mentioned that locals are practicing precautions like washing hands with clean water but wished they had access to other protective supplies such as 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.<\/p>\n
The Red Cross warned that Ebola can escalate rapidly 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.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, DR Congo President F\u00e9lix Tshisekedi called for “calm” and urged Congolese 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 his “deep concern about the scale and speed of the epidemic.” It is feared the outbreak may have been ongoing for several weeks before its first detection on April 24.<\/p>\n
There is no vaccine for the specific strain of Ebola virus driving this latest surge in cases, but the WHO is evaluating whether other drugs could offer 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 investigation and disease 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 spread to South Kivu province, which has suffered from a humanitarian crisis for many years.<\/p>\n
A case has also been reported in Goma, eastern DR Congo’s largest city, with a population of around 850,000, which is under the control of Rwandan-backed rebels. High levels of insecurity in several provinces mean frequent population movement, increasing the risk and spread of the virus.<\/p>\n
Several African countries are implementing precautions, including tightening border screenings and preparing health facilities. Neighboring Rwanda has closed its borders with the DR Congo, and Uganda has advised people to avoid hugging and shaking hands.<\/p>\n
An American citizen, believed to be missionary group doctor Peter Stafford, is being evacuated from the DR Congo after developing symptoms over the weekend. Germany’s health ministry informed the BBC that a US citizen was being transported to the country for treatment. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated it was working to evacuate at least six other exposed Americans.<\/p>\n
The WHO and other agencies are collaborating with governments and communities to halt the virus’s spread, urging residents to follow preventative measures and report to the nearest health facility if they experience any symptoms.<\/p>\n
Ebola is caused by a virus and initially presents with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and tiredness. As the disease progresses, vomiting and diarrhea develop, potentially leading to organ failure. Some, but not all, patients experience internal and external bleeding. The virus spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids like blood or vomit.<\/p>\n
The Bundibugyo strain, responsible for this increase in cases, is rare and has only caused two previous outbreaks, killing approximately one-third of those infected. Between 2014 and 2016, over 28,600 people in West Africa were infected by Ebola in the largest outbreak of the virus since its discovery in 1976. That outbreak was caused by the Zaire strain, for which an approved vaccine exists. The disease spread to several West African countries and beyond, including Guinea, Sierra Leone, the US, UK, and Italy, resulting in 11,325 deaths.<\/p>\n
Key Facts:
\n* Ebola is a rare but severe and often deadly viral disease.
\n* The current strain identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the Bundibugyo virus.
\n* The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
\n* Initial symptoms are sudden and flu-like, including fever, headache, and tiredness.
\n* The largest ever outbreak (2014-16) infected 28,600 people in West Africa.
\n* The WHO states there are no approved drugs or vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
\n* Vaccines exist for the Zaire strain of Ebola.<\/p>\n
#EbolaOutbreak #DRCongo #WHO #PublicHealthEmergency #EbolaVirus #GlobalHealth #DiseaseControl #BundibugyoStrain #HealthCrisis #InfectiousDisease<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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