The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), in light of the spread of Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
In Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 8 confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths have been reported. Confirmed cases have also been reported in Uganda. Because the first collected samples showed a high positive rate, with a rising trend in suspected cases and deaths clustered across the province, WHO points out the possibility of a large-scale outbreak.
Ebola virus disease is an extremely dangerous infectious disease with a very high fatality rate. It is mainly transmitted through contact with bodily fluids of infected persons. Although it is not necessarily highly contagious, there are currently no vaccines or therapeutics with fully established safety and efficacy for prevention or treatment. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days, beginning with fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and loss of appetite, followed by symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. As the illness worsens, bleeding tendencies appear throughout the body, which can lead to death.
However, WHO states that this situation does not fall under a “pandemic emergency,” which is declared only when all four criteria for a PHEIC are met.
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