Congo: New Ebola Strain Kills 130, WHO Declares Emergency

New Ebola Strain Kills More Than 130 in Congo as WHO Declares Emergency DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO A fast-moving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed more than 130 people and prompted the World Health Organization to declare an international health emergency, amid fears the virus could spread across central and eastern Africa. Health officials said the outbreak was caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which was first identified in 2007. It has no approved vaccine. The strain has a fatality rate of up to 50 percent. The virus was first detected late last month in a nurse in Bunia, in eastern Congo. Additional cases have since been reported in that region and in neighboring Uganda. The DRC health ministry has recorded more than 513 suspected cases and at least 131 deaths. On Monday, officials also reported that at least six US citizens had been exposed to the virus. Authorities and civil society groups warned that the outbreak is spreading in densely populated eastern regions affected by years of conflict and weak infrastructure. Among the areas of concern is the eastern city of Goma, which is currently occupied by rebel forces. Officials said insecurity and poor healthcare access could hamper efforts to contain the virus and sparked fears that cases could be underreported. The WHO said the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the organization’s second-highest alert level. The organization warned that the high positivity rate, confirmed cases in two countries and rising reports of suspected infections “all point towards a potentially much larger outbreak.” The WHO advised DRC and Uganda to introduce cross-border screening measures to limit further spread. Neighboring Rwanda announced it would tighten screening along its border with DRC as a “precautionary measure,” while Nigeria said it was “closely monitoring the situation.” This is the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in DRC. The country’s deadliest outbreak, between 2018 and 2020, killed nearly 2,300 people. Ebola spreads through bodily fluids and can cause fever, vomiting and hemorrhaging. The incubation period can last up to 21 days.