Ebola risk raised to 'very high' in DR Congo

WHO increased the public health risk from the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo from high to very high at the national level. The risk in the wider African region was raised to high, while the global risk stayed low. The Bundibugyo species has no proven vaccine and kills about a third of infected people. The outbreak has produced 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths, with 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths reported in DR Congo. Uganda reported two confirmed Bundibugyo cases and one death, described as stable, linked to travel from DR Congo. WHO noted the need for trust and that vaccine effectiveness requires animal research and human trials.

"We are now revising our risk assessment to very high at the national level, high at the regional level, and low at the global level."

"So far, 82 cases have been confirmed in DRC, with seven confirmed deaths. Tedros added the situation in neighbouring Uganda - where they have been two confirmed cases of the Bundibugyo species and one death - was "stable" with both cases from people who travelled from neighbouring DR Congo."

"The rare species of Ebola, known as Bundibugyo, has no proven vaccine and kills around a third of those infected. There are no guarantees the vaccine will prove effective and it will take animal research and trials on people to know if it will. Another separate experimental Bundibugyo vaccine is also in development, but it is expected to take six to nine months for any dose of that to be ready for testing."

"Ebola is a rare but deadly disease caused by a virus. Although less deadly than other Ebola species, the rarity of Bundibugyo means there are fewer tools to stop it. Ebola viruses normally infect animals, typically fruit bats, but outbreaks among humans can sometimes start when people eat or handle infected animals."

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