According to the Congolese sanitary services, the country has so far recorded 543 suspected and 33 confirmed cases of infection. Two cases have been confirmed in neighboring Uganda. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus decided to declare a state of emergency before convening the emergency committeewhich is an unprecedented situation.
The current wave of cases has caused concern among experts because it has spread unnoticed for many weeks in highly populated areas that are additionally affected by armed violence.. In 2018-2020, the region experienced the second most tragic Ebola epidemic in history, resulting in almost 2,300 deaths. people.
Border restrictions
The Ugandan authorities have introduced traffic restrictions at the Ishasha-Kyeshero border crossing, but as Ambrose Amanyire Mwesigye, a local government official, said, the border formally remains open. In turn, in the south of the country, people trying to cross the border with Rwanda from the cities of Goma and Bukavu were detained by border services.
The World Health Organization appealed to countries not to close their borders, arguing that such actions may lead to the creation of informal border crossings that are difficult to monitor.
Characteristics of the virus and challenges in the fight against the epidemic
According to WHO data the average mortality rate for Ebola virus infection is approximately 50 percent. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with the body fluids of infected people or animals.
The current outbreak is caused by a rare strain of Bundibugyo, for which there are no currently approved drugs or vaccines. This distinguishes it from the more widespread Zaire strain, against which preventive measures are already available.
