The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency of international concern following an outbreak of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Cross-border transmission was confirmed after cases were identified in individuals traveling from the DRC to Uganda.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, one of four orthoebolaviruses that cause Ebola in humans. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, there are no approved vaccines for this strain. Two potential candidate vaccines have been identified, but clinical trials remain months away.
So far, there are 536 suspected cases, 105 probable cases, 34 confirmed cases, and 134 suspected deaths. Most cases involve adults aged 20 to 39, with approximately two-thirds being women.
WHO warns the actual spread may be significantly larger than reported, with confirmed cases in Kampala, rising suspected cases, and clusters of deaths across Ituri. Unexplained community deaths and infections among healthcare workers have raised concerns about healthcare-associated transmission.
The CDC and the Department of Homeland Security have enforced entry restrictions and enhanced travel screening to prevent the virus from entering the United States. Response efforts continue to focus on infection control, case isolation, and accelerated research into treatments and vaccines.