Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Congo: WHO emergency declared as deaths pass 100

A rare Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has surpassed 100 deaths across Ituri and North Kivu, with more than 300 suspected cases. Officials say an American doctor is among confirmed infections. The World Health Organization has declared an international emergency as scrutiny grows over delayed detection and early false-negative tests.

Health officials in Congo reported a growing Ebola outbreak involving the rare Bundibugyo strain. A Congolese official said an American doctor was among newly confirmed cases. Deaths crossed 100 in Ituri and North Kivu provinces. The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday.

By Monday, officials recorded over 300 suspected cases and 118 deaths in Ituri and North Kivu. Two deaths were also reported in neighbouring Uganda. Confirmed cases were found in Bunia, Goma, Mongbwalu, Butembo and Nyakunde. Health experts said the virus spread unnoticed for several weeks.

Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Congo: delays in detection

Congo said the first person died on April 24 in Bunia. The body was repatriated to the Mongbwalu health zone, a mining area with a large population. Health minister Samuel Roger Kamba said this movement helped the outbreak grow. When another person fell ill on April 26, samples went to Kinshasa.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control said the WHO was alerted on May 5. Officials reported about 50 deaths in Mongbwalu, including four health workers. The first case was confirmed on May 14. Congolese officials said Bunia samples were first tested for the Zaire strain. Dr. Richard Kitenge said they returned negative results.

The first confirmation of Ebola came on May 14, and the Bundibugyo strain was confirmed the next day. Matthew M. Kavanagh said early tests searched for the wrong strain. "Because early tests looked for the wrong strain of Ebola, we got false negatives and lost weeks of response time,\" Kavanagh said. \"We are playing catch-up against a very dangerous pathogen.\"

Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Congo: response and resources

Kavanagh also criticised earlier US policy decisions linked to the WHO and foreign aid. \"When you pull billions out of the WHO and dismantle front line USAID programs, you gut the exact surveillance system meant to catch these viruses early,\" he said. Congo’s health minister said the government was opening three treatment centres.

The WHO said it sent a team of experts and supplies as more resources moved to the region. Esther Sterk of Medecins Sans Frontieres said detection came late. \"The situation is quite worrying and is evolving pretty quickly,\" Sterk told the AP. Sterk added the disease often resembles other tropical illnesses, which can slow recognition.

Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Congo: American exposure reports

Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe, medical director of the Congolese National Institute of Bio-Medical Research, told The Associated Press the American doctor was among cases in Bunia. On Sunday, CBS News reported at least six Americans were exposed in Congo. The AP could not independently confirm the other reported exposures.

U.S. health officials said on Sunday that the risk to Americans was low. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued travel advisories for Congo and Uganda. The CDC urged travellers to avoid people with symptoms such as fever, muscle pain and rash. The CDC also said it was applying measures at ports of entry.

Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Congo: strain history and symptoms

Ebola spreads through bodily fluids, including vomit, blood or semen. The illness is rare but severe and often fatal. The Bundibugyo virus is a rare variant, with no approved vaccines or therapeutics. The U.S. CDC lists symptoms including fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain, and bleeding or bruising.

More than 20 Ebola outbreaks have occurred in Congo and Uganda since 1976. This is only the third known detection of the Bundibugyo variant. It first appeared in Uganda’s Bundibugyo district in 2007-2008, infecting 149 and killing 37. In 2012, Isiro in Congo reported 57 cases and 29 deaths.

Dr. Gabriel Nsakala said Congo has experience managing Ebola outbreaks. Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa CDC, told Sky News on Sunday he was in panic mode. Dr. Jean Kaseya cited a lack of medicines and vaccines. Dr. Jean Kaseya said some candidate treatments were anticipated in the coming weeks.

Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Congo: humanitarian and border impacts

Mongbwalu sits in remote eastern Congo with weak road links. It is more than 1,000 kilometres, or 620 miles, from Kinshasa. Eastern Congo also faces a humanitarian crisis and threats from armed groups. In the past year, violence killed dozens and displaced thousands in Ituri.

\"No one really has a full understanding of how serious this crisis is,\" said a Bunia-based U.N. official. The official spoke anonymously due to limits on speaking publicly. Staff were asked to work from home and avoid physical contact and crowded areas. The official said stopping work could harm communities relying on aid.

Ituri had over 273,00 displaced people, according to the U.N. Rwanda closed its land border with Congo on Sunday. AP reporters tried to cross on Sunday and Monday morning. They were told it was shut except for holders of international flight tickets. Rwandan authorities did not respond to a request for comment.

With inputs from PTI