An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has beenspreading undetected for weeksin one of the most challenging environments on earth, and experts are watching closely to see whether it can be contained before it grows into something far more serious.
Almost 250 suspected cases and 80 deaths have been recorded so far. The World Health Organisation has declared the situation apublic health emergencyof international concern, but scientists are at pains to stress that this does not mean the world is in the early stages of aCovid-style pandemic.
For most of the world, the immediate threat is limited. At the height of the catastrophic 2014-16 West African outbreak, the largest in history, with 28,600 infections, Britain recorded just three cases, all in medical volunteers who had travelled to assist with the response.
Dr Amanda Rojek of the Pandemic Sciences Institute at the University of Oxford said the WHO's emergency declaration "does reflect that the situation is complex enough to require international coordination" but stopped well short of suggesting a global crisis was imminent.
The countries most exposed are those sharing borders and economic ties with the DRC. Experts have identified Uganda, South Sudan and Rwanda as particularly vulnerable, given the volume of cross-border movement between them and the affected region. Two people in Uganda have already been confirmed to have the virus, one of whom has died.
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TheBBCreports the strain at the centre of this crisis is Bundibugyo, one of the least understood of the three Ebola species known to cause human outbreaks. Prior to this, it had emerged on only two occasions in recorded history, first in 2007 and again in 2012, with a fatality rate of roughly 30 per cent.
Unlike more commonly encountered strains of the virus, there are no approved vaccines or drug treatments for Bundibugyo, though some experimental options exist.
Standard diagnostic testing has proven unreliable in identifying this strain, early samples returned negative results, and only after more advanced analysis could scientists confirm that Bundibugyo was responsible. Prof Trudie Lang of the University of Oxford described dealing with this species as "one of the most significant concerns" in the current situation.
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
