*Says Outbreak Does Not Meet Pandemic Criteria
*Risks Spreading Beyond DRC, Uganda
*Six Americans Exposed To Virus
*Advises Against Border Closures, Urges Isolation, Monitoring, Cross-border Screening
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, after 80 deaths were attributed to the disease.
The WHO, however, said the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, did not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency, but there was a high risk the disease could spread further to countries sharing land borders with the DRC.
On Sunday, May 17, the United Nations (UN) health agency said in a statement that 80 suspected deaths, eight laboratory-confirmed cases and 246 suspected cases, had been reported as of Saturday in the DRC’s Ituri province across at least three health zones, including Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu.
One case was confirmed in the eastern Congolese city of Goma, a statement by M23 rebels said.
At least six Americans in the DRC have been exposed to the Ebola virus, with three exposures deemed high risk, CBS News reported, citing unnamed sources with international aid organisations.
STAT News said one American may have developed symptoms. Reuters could not immediately verify the reports.
STAT News, which also cited unnamed sources, said the US government was trying to transport the individuals out of the country, possibly to a military base in Germany.
The DRC health ministry had said on Friday, May 16, that 80 people had died in the new outbreak in the eastern province.
The 17th outbreak in the country, where Ebola was first identified in 1976, could in fact be much larger, given the high positivity rate of the initial samples and the increasing number of suspected cases being reported, the WHO said.
The outbreak is “extraordinary,” as there are no approved Bundibugyo virus-specific therapeutics or vaccines, unlike for Ebola-Zaire strains, it said.
All but one of the country’s previous outbreaks were caused by the Zaire strain.
The DRC-Uganda outbreak poses a public health risk to other countries, with some cases of an international spread already documented, the agency said, advising countries to activate their national disaster and emergency-management mechanisms and undertake cross-border screening and screening at main internal roads.
Those who have had contact with or cases of the Bundibugyo virus should not travel internationally, unless as part of a medical evacuation, the WHO said, advising isolating confirmed cases immediately and monitoring contacts 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 making informal border crossings that are not monitored.
The DRC’s dense tropical forests are a natural reservoir for the Ebola virus.
The often-fatal virus, which causes fever, body aches, vomiting and diarrhoea, spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated materials or persons who have died from the disease, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
