Ebola outbreak in Congo (Health, diseases and Biotechnology)
Ebola outbreak in Congo (Health, diseases and Biotechnology)
Context:
The World Health Organization on May 17th, 2026, declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a “public health emergency of international concern”, posing risks to neighbouring countries.
The WHO said the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency.
The DRC’s dense tropical forests are a natural reservoir for the Ebola virus.
Ebola:
Ebola disease is a rare but severe and often fatal illness caused by viruses known as orthoebolaviruses primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa.
There are four orthoebolaviruses that cause illness in people:
Ebola virus
Sudan virus
Taï Forest virus
Bundibugyo virus
Ebola disease outbreaks typically begin in endemic regions when a person is infected through contact with an animal host, human-to-human transmission occurring from contact with body fluids of an infect sick or deceased person.
Ebola disease typically begins suddenly with symptoms such as fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, followed by vomiting and diarrhea.
In severe cases, the illness can progress to multiorgan failure, internal and external bleeding, and death.
A person is only contagious once symptoms appear.
Transmission
:
The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and then spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.
A person becomes infected when their broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth come into contact with Blood or body fluids, Objects contaminated with body fluids, Semen from a person from ebola infected person.
A person infected with Ebola cannot spread the disease until they develop symptoms.
Incubation period: 2 to 21 days
Treatment:
There is no cure or specific treatment for Ebola virus.
Treatment is directed primarily at relieving the symptoms.
The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%.