Kinshasa: Ebola infections are rising rapidly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, prompting warnings across the African continent. Health officials say the outbreak is intensifying day by day.
The virus spreads through contact with bodily fluids such as blood, sweat and semen, and is known to cause severe illness with a high risk of death. The current outbreak is linked to a mutated strain referred to as the “Bundibugyo” variant.
According to the World Health Organization, there is no approved vaccine or specific medicine for this strain so far. Citing the seriousness of the situation, WHO has declared it a global public health emergency and called for immediate, coordinated international action to prevent further spread.
WHO has also warned that the risk of transmission is very high for 10 countries, including Congo’s neighbours Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia.
In India, the Central government has postponed the 4th India–Africa Partnership Summit due to outbreak concerns. Airport surveillance has been intensified, and travellers arriving from affected African countries—or those transiting through them—have been instructed to report any illness immediately to airport health authorities.
In eastern Congo’s Ituri province, the number of people with Ebola symptoms has crossed 900. Congo’s communications ministry said 904 people have been affected, and 119 deaths have been reported.
