Congo Confirms 13 Ebola Cases and 80 Deaths in Ituri as WHO Releases $500,000
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 15
Congo Confirms 13 Ebola Cases and 80 Deaths in Ituri as WHO Releases $500,000
9 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 15
Thirteen lab-confirmed Ebola cases have now been recorded in eastern Congo's Ituri province, where the health ministry said 80 people have died and 246 cases are suspected.
Samples confirmed positive on Thursday after earlier field tests were negative; officials traced the suspected index case to a nurse who died in Bunia with fever, bleeding, vomiting and severe weakness.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain — rare in Congo — which experts say could complicate the response because existing vaccines and treatments were developed for the Zaire strain.
WHO has released $500,000 and Congo has activated emergency operations, but violence in Ituri has left some health facilities overwhelmed as cross-border movement toward Uganda and South Sudan raises regional spread risks.
With no effective vaccine, how can this deadly Ebola outbreak be stopped in a raging conflict zone?
Can revolutionary nanobody research offer hope against this new, treatment-resistant Ebola strain?
246 Suspected Bundibugyo Ebola Cases in Ituri, DRC: Outbreak Response Hindered by Conflict and Lack of Vaccine
Overview
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province is facing a confirmed Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain, which is different from the more common Zaire strain. This situation is especially challenging because there are no licensed vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain or Sudan ebolavirus, making outbreak control difficult. In response, the DRC government quickly activated its public health emergency operations centre and deployed specialized teams to contain the spread. The unique nature of the Bundibugyo strain highlights the urgent need for strong public health measures and regional cooperation to manage the crisis effectively.