DRC Ebola Outbreak Threatens Region

The latest outbreak of Ebola hits the six-month mark and has claimed more than 460 lives, with a mortality rate of around 61%. It now stands as the second worst outbreak to the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa when more than 11,000 people died.

Concerns are increasing that the outbreak may threaten the wider East Africa region, with WHO issuing a warning and advising countries sharing a border with the DRC to strengthen surveillance and alert systems for early detection, as well as response times. As it stands Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan and Burundi are ranked as priority one countries, with Angola, Congo, the Central African Republic, Tanzania and Zambia ranked priority two.

In December cases were reported in Butembo, which is close to the Ugandan border. There are also fears it will soon reach Goma, where the DRC shares a busy border with Rwanda.  As such countries in the region have reintroduce routine screening of all travellers entering the country.

In Uganda some vaccination of healthcare workers at priority sites has begun, with similar measures expected to be rolled out in Rwanda and South Sudan. South Sudan has also opened a new Infectious Diseases Unit.