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WHO Raises Global Alert Over Ebola Outbreak
(MENAFN) The World Health Organization has declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak connected to the Bundibugyo strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a global public health emergency, according to official statements released Sunday.
Despite the warning, the organization did not classify the outbreak as a “pandemic emergency.”
Health data released by the WHO showed that eastern DR Congo’s Ituri Province has recorded at least eight confirmed Ebola infections, alongside 246 suspected cases and around 80 suspected deaths. In neighboring Uganda, authorities confirmed two imported infections in the capital Kampala involving patients who had recently traveled from DR Congo. Both individuals were placed in intensive care units.
Officials said unusual patterns involving infections and deaths among healthcare workers suggest the virus may already be spreading widely within communities, while also exposing serious “gaps” in hospital infection prevention systems.
The WHO further warned that the actual scale of the outbreak could exceed current surveillance estimates and that additional undetected transmission may already be taking place.
Unlike the more widespread Zaire strain of Ebola, the Bundibugyo variant currently has no approved vaccine or specialized treatment. “As such, this event is considered extraordinary,” officials said.
The Bundibugyo strain was first identified in Uganda in 2007. Scientists believe fruit bats are the natural carriers of the virus, which can spread to humans through contact with infected animals and later pass between people through bodily fluids.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also warned that the outbreaks in DR Congo and Uganda represent a major regional concern and stressed the need for stronger cooperation between neighboring countries to limit transmission. “Ebola does not respect borders,” he said while pointing to population movement and instability in the affected region.
Meanwhile, Red Cross teams in impacted communities have reportedly been conducting door-to-door awareness campaigns, helping identify suspected infections, assisting contact tracing efforts, and addressing false information linked to the outbreak.
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