The Health Ministry has announced that it is closely monitoring the situation following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
The WHO warned that while this outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, has not yet reached the level of a global pandemic, the risk of transmission to countries bordering the DRC remains extremely high.
A media official from the Health Ministry stated that the situation is under continuous surveillance and that further updates will be shared as more information becomes available.
"We are currently monitoring the situation in coordination with relevant stakeholders," the official stated in the ministry’s official media group.
According to a statement released by the UN health agency, as of Saturday, 80 suspected deaths have been reported across three areas in the DRC’s Ituri Province. Additionally, the agency confirmed eight laboratory-verified cases and 246 suspected cases.
The WHO noted that the potential for the virus to spread further than current data suggests is significant. This is due to high positivity rates in initial screenings and a rising number of suspected cases. Adding to the severity of the situation is the fact that, unlike other Ebola strains, there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for the Bundibugyo virus.
The outbreak has already begun to cross international borders. Two cases were identified in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, resulting in one fatality; both individuals had traveled from the DRC. Furthermore, a confirmed case has been reported in the DRC’s capital, Kinshasa.
The WHO has advised nations to strengthen their disaster management systems and implement screening measures at borders and major transit routes.
The organization has also instructed infected individuals and their contacts to refrain from traveling. It further recommended the immediate isolation of confirmed cases and a 21-day monitoring period for those who have come into contact with the virus.
However, the WHO urged countries not to close borders or impose trade and travel restrictions out of fear. The agency cautioned that closing borders could lead to the movement of people and goods through unofficial channels, creating further obstacles to controlling the spread of the disease.
