The World Health Organisation on Sunday declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a "public health emergency of international concern", posing risks to neighbouring countries. However, the WHO categorically clarified that the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency but that countries sharing land borders with the DRC are at high risk for further spread.
The 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 DRC's Ituri province across at least three health zones, including Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu.
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The DRC health ministry had said on Friday that 80 people had died in the new outbreak in the eastern province. The outbreak - the 17th in the country since Ebola was first identified there in 1976 - could be much larger, given the high positivity rate of the initial samples and increasing number of suspected cases being reported, the WHO said.
Is there any vaccine for the Bundibugyo virus?
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.
Bundibugyo virus-disease contacts or cases should not travel internationally, unless as part of a medical evacuation, the WHO said. The agency advised immediately isolating confirmed cases and monitoring contacts daily, with restricted national travel and no international travel until 21 days after exposure.
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What are the symptoms of the Ebola virus?
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.
What does it mean for you?
While such a declaration sounds alarming, it does not necessarily mean a worldwide outbreak is imminent. Instead, it signals that health authorities are treating the situation with heightened urgency to stop the virus from spreading across borders.
For the general public, the biggest impact is likely to be increased health screening and travel advisories, particularly for people arriving from affected regions. Airports and border authorities may strengthen monitoring, while governments could issue updated guidance for travellers. In some countries, hospitals may also review preparedness plans, stock protective equipment, and refresh emergency response systems.
For countries far from the outbreak zone, including India, experts often stress that the immediate risk of infection remains low unless there is direct exposure to infected individuals or travel-linked transmission. Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, contaminated materials, or infected animals, unlike airborne viruses such as COVID-19.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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