Ebola outbreak with uncommon strain confirmed in Congo and Uganda
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC, with preliminary data indicating a strain distinct from the typical Zaire virus, complicating vaccine efficacy and response protocols.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed on Friday that an Ebola outbreak has erupted in the Northeastern Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Preliminary laboratory results suggest the outbreak is driven by an uncommon strain, diverging from the typical Zaire Ebola virus strain that has historically caused the largest outbreaks. The DRC has recorded 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths, concentrated primarily in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones.
Uganda has reported one imported confirmed case in the capital, Kampala. Early reports from Ugandan officials indicate this case involves the Bundibugyo strain, though genetic sequencing is ongoing to confirm the specific variant. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in the DRC since the virus was first identified in 1976 and ranks as approximately the 10th largest outbreak to date.
Jean-Jacques Muyembe, the Congolese virologist who co-discovered Ebola and heads the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa, warned that a non-Zaire strain could hinder standard response protocols. Current licensed vaccines and treatments were developed specifically against the Zaire strain, potentially limiting their effectiveness against the current outbreak.
The Africa CDC highlighted several complicating factors, including the urban settings of Bunia and Rwampara, high population mobility linked to mining activities, militia clashes, and gaps in contact tracing. Dr. Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa CDC, emphasised the need for rapid regional coordination, noting the potential for spillover into South Sudan alongside the existing case in Uganda.
The World Health Organization deployed a team to the DRC on May 5 after receiving signals of suspected cases and is currently assisting the health ministry. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the release of $500,000 from the Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support immediate response efforts.
Jay Bhattacharya, heading the US CDC, stated that the agency was informed of the outbreak on Thursday and is providing technical assistance. The US CDC, which maintains offices in both the DRC and Uganda, is coordinating closely with local authorities to manage the response to what Bhattacharya described as a large and rapidly evolving situation.
