GENEVA, May 17 — The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a "public health emergency of international concern".
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency, but countries sharing land borders with the DRC are at high risk for further spread.
In a statement on Sunday, the United Nations health agency said that 80 suspected deaths, eight laboratory-confirmed cases, and 246 suspected cases had been reported as of Saturday in DRC's Ituri province across at least three health zones, including Bunia, Rwampara, and Mongbwalu.
International spread documented, WHO says
On Friday, the DRC Health Ministry said that 80 people had died in the new outbreak in the eastern province.
The WHO noted that there could be a much larger outbreak than is currently detected and reported, given the high positivity rate in the initial samples and the increasing number of suspected cases being reported.
The outbreak is "extraordinary" as there are no approved Bundibugyo virus-specific therapeutics or vaccines, unlike for the Ebola-Zaire strains.
It added that the DRC-Uganda outbreak poses a public health risk to other countries, with some cases of international spread already documented, while advising countries to activate their national disaster and emergency management mechanisms and undertake cross-border screening and screening at main internal roads.
In Uganda's capital Kampala, two apparently unrelated laboratory-confirmed cases, including one death, were reported on Friday and Saturday, from people travelling from the DRC.
The WHO also reported a laboratory-confirmed case in the DRC capital Kinshasa in a person returning from Ituri.
It advised that Bundibugyo virus disease contacts or cases should not travel internationally unless as part of a medical evacuation.
Similarly, the immediate isolation of confirmed cases should be implemented, and contacts monitored daily, with restricted national travel and no international travel until 21 days after exposure.
At the same time, the WHO urged countries not to close their borders or restrict travel and trade out of fear, as this could lead to people and goods crossing unmonitored informal borders.
