Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Health, Diseases and Biotechnology)
Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Health, Diseases and Biotechnology)
Why In News:
The WHO warned that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could surpass the deadliest recorded outbreak, drawing global attention to public health emergency preparedness.
Source: The Indian Express, The World Page, 13 August 2026, 'WHO says Congo's Ebola outbreak is on track to surpass the deadliest in history'
About Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
Ebola Virus Disease is caused by a Filovirus, first identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in the DRC.
Transmission occurs through direct contact with blood or body fluids of infected people or animals; bats and primates are suspected natural reservoirs.
The disease has a historical case fatality rate ranging from 25% to 90%, averaging around 50%.
The deadliest recorded outbreak was the West Africa Ebola epidemic (2014-2016), which killed over 11,000 people.
Global Health Governance
The WHO can declare an outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005.
The WHO, a specialised agency of the United Nations, is headquartered in Geneva and was established in 1948.
The 'One Health' approach, jointly promoted by the WHO (World Health Organization), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), and WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health) addresses the risk of zoonotic diseases at the human-animal-environment interface.
India's Preparedness Angle
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) monitors emerging infectious disease threats in India.
High-risk pathogen research in India is handled by Biosafety Level laboratories, such as the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.
Key Facts for Prelims
Zoonotic diseases (transmitted from animals to humans) include Ebola, Nipah, and COVID-19, and represent a growing area of global health governance concern.
The DRC has faced repeated Ebola outbreaks, with containment efforts complicated by ongoing conflict in its eastern provinces.