“We want all countries to know that they are not safe if they don’t take appropriate measures,” Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was quoted as saying by the Guardian. “Each country, not only in the African region, but all continents, must now increase the preparedness level and the possibility for treatment."
Kaseya also highlighted the unprecedented geographical spread of the outbreak, saying, “It is the first time three African regions have been affected [by Ebola]. The geographic extension of this outbreak is unprecedented.”
Comparing with Covid, Kaseya said many countries thought they are safe when Covid started. “We shouldn’t forget that at the beginning of Covid, many countries said there was zero risk of being affected, but a few months later, they became the hotspot,” he said. “We don’t want to see the UK and other countries become the hotspot.”
Ebola outbreak in Africa crosses 10,000 cases
The latest Ebola outbreak in Africa has surpassed 10,000 confirmed cases, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accounting for the vast majority of infections and nearly 5,000 reported deaths, according to figures released by Congolese health authorities on Tuesday.The DRC has recorded 10,060 infections and 4,887 deaths since the virus was first detected in May. The outbreak is the deadliest in the country's history.
Cases have also been reported in Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that containing the outbreak is a complex challenge because of its spread across eastern, western and central Africa.
According to the Congolese National Institute of Public Health, 2,684 people have recovered from the infection in the DRC. The reported figures indicate a fatality rate of nearly 50%.
One of the major challenges facing health authorities is the absence of approved vaccines or treatments specifically for the Bundibugyo virus, the Ebola species responsible for the current epidemic.
How the outbreak spread across Africa
As per an AFP report, the virus circulated undetected for weeks before being identified in the northeastern Congolese province of Ituri. The outbreak marked the DRC's 17th recorded Ebola outbreak.It has since spread across parts of the country's north and east, where armed-group violence and limited public trust in state institutions have complicated the response.
Ituri and the eastern province of North Kivu account for most reported cases. Parts of North Kivu are controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia.
Neighbouring Uganda recorded 20 cases and two deaths before the WHO declared the country Ebola-free in late August.
Kenya, which reported no cases until October 6, has recorded nine infections and two deaths. Most of those infected had recently travelled to the DRC.
Nigeria has reported one confirmed case involving a 42-year-old Swiss woman who contracted the virus after travelling to Uganda with her husband. She was evacuated to a hospital in Geneva on Monday.
Nigerian health authorities have identified 53 contacts of the patient in an effort to prevent further transmission. Some experts have raised concerns that the virus could have spread after the couple returned to Nigeria on October 3.
Can an existing Ebola vaccine protect against the outbreak?
Researchers have begun testing the Ervebo vaccine, which has demonstrated effectiveness against the more common Zaire strain of Ebola, to determine whether it can also protect against the Bundibugyo variant.The lack of an approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo species remains a significant concern for health authorities working to contain the outbreak.
What is Ebola disease?
According to the WHO, Ebola disease is a severe and often fatal illness in humans. Three viruses are associated with major outbreaks: Ebola virus, Sudan virus and Bundibugyo virus.The average case fatality rate for Ebola disease is around 50%, although rates in previous outbreaks have ranged from 25% to 90%.
The disease can spread through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, as well as contaminated materials. Early detection, infection-control measures, contact tracing and appropriate supportive care are critical to limiting transmission and improving outcomes.