Is it safe to travel to East Africa amid the Ebola outbreak? Cases in Uganda and DRC put Kenya on high alert

"Like other forms of Ebola, Bundibugyo virus disease can cause fever, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. It spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people or contaminated materials, rather than through the air like Covid or influenza."

"According to the World Health Organisation, previous Bundibugyo outbreaks have generally recorded lower fatality rates than the better-known Zaire strain, although the disease is still considered highly dangerous and capable of spreading rapidly in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure. The key difference is that there are currently no approved vaccines or targeted treatments specifically available for the Bundibugyo strain."

"Most recent Ebola responses, including vaccines deployed during outbreaks in West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, were developed for the Zaire strain of Ebola virus, which has historically caused the deadliest outbreaks. Health authorities say those are not formally approved for Bundibugyo virus disease. The strain is considered somewhat less lethal than Zaire Ebola on average, with historical fatality rates estimated at roughly 25 per cent to 50 per cent, compared with up to 90 per cent in some past Zaire outbreaks."

"Bundibugyo Ebola spreads in the same way as other forms of Ebola - through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials. Crucially, it's not considered an airborne virus in the way Covid, the flu or measles are. People generally become infectious only once symptoms begin, which means casual contact, such as briefly passing someone in an airport or sitting near someone without symptoms, is considered much lower risk than direct physical contact with a sick person."

Bundibugyo virus disease causes fever, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhoea, and can lead to internal and external bleeding in severe cases. Transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people or contaminated materials, not through the air. Previous outbreaks have generally shown lower fatality rates than the Zaire strain, but the disease remains highly dangerous and can spread rapidly where healthcare infrastructure is limited. There are currently no approved vaccines or targeted treatments specifically for the Bundibugyo strain. Mortality estimates vary widely based on early detection, contact tracing effectiveness, and the quality of local healthcare response. People typically become infectious once symptoms begin, making casual contact lower risk than direct physical contact with a sick person.

Read at CN Traveller