An urgent meeting of leading medical experts has been convened following the declaration by the World Health Organization of Ebola as a ‘global health emergency.’
The death toll has risen to over 130 individuals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to the rapid spread of the viral haemorrhagic fever. Efforts are underway by health professionals to control the outbreak and prevent it from crossing borders.
The US government has sought assistance from Germany to treat a citizen infected with Ebola, who is currently receiving care in isolation at Charité hospital in Berlin. Ebola, characterized by symptoms like fever, vomiting, and severe bleeding, has the potential to be fatal within just 24 hours.
The ongoing outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, presenting challenges as there are no specific treatments or vaccines available.
A meeting of the WHO emergency committee was held to address the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressing deep concern.
Reports indicate that the outbreak is spreading into Uganda, prompting the mobilization of experts from around the world to provide guidance on containment strategies.
WHO’s DRC representative, Anne Ancia, cautioned that the outbreak may persist for an extended period, citing a previous Ebola outbreak that took two years to resolve.
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has previously caused outbreaks in the same region near the Congo River. The virus spreads through close contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals, posing a significant risk to healthcare workers and caregivers.
Symptoms of Ebola can manifest within 2 to 21 days of infection, initially resembling a flu-like illness before progressing to severe symptoms, including bleeding from various body parts.
On average, Ebola has a fatality rate of about 50%, with rates in previous outbreaks ranging from 25% to 90%.
The UK Health Security Agency has assessed the risk of the current Ebola outbreak to Britain as low, with rare occurrences of Ebola cases in returning travelers.
In response to the global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization, the UKHSA has activated its response systems, including providing regular updates and guidance to the public, travelers, and the NHS.