GENEVA: WHO’s Ebola hantavirus outbreak worries have come to a head in recent days when the World Health Organization has made the decision to classify the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a public health emergency of international concern — the highest alert level — as well as dealing with a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship that left three dead.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, spoke at the World Health Assembly held in Switzerland about the twin outbreak problem and assured that he will provide more information regarding the two outbreaks in his address in the afternoon. Delegates from all over the world were present as the chief health officer of Africa shared his concerns about the situation.
No Approved Vaccines for the Bundibugyo Strain
The warnings raised by the WHO concerning the Ebola hantavirus outbreak point out an aspect that should be taken into consideration regarding the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The fact is that while other strains of Ebola can be controlled through vaccinations, the current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatment methods. In this regard, isolation and contact tracing are the only options left for dealing with the virus, which kills 30% of infected individuals.
The Director-General of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Jean Kaseya made the following remarks to the BBC: “We’ve got over 395 suspected cases reported in both Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. We’ve got over 100 deaths recorded; we do not have any pharmaceutical intervention.” “We don’t have a vaccine, we don’t have medicine available to support,” Kaseya added – a statement that underscores the dire situation health officials find themselves in dealing with a haemorrhagic fever virus in a war-torn area with little infrastructure.
Civil War Creates Another Problem
The WHO response to the hantavirus outbreak in DR Congo’s eastern Ituri province is further complicated by the fact that the outbreak occurred during a time when there was ongoing civil war in the area. The civil war led to several waeeks of unnoticed transmission of the virus, as it spread within the communities without being detected by the health surveillance system.
Cases of Ebola Virus Recorded in Uganda While Rwanda and South Sudan Sound Alarm Bells
The containment of the Ebola hantavirus outbreak by the WHO is facing its greatest challenge in terms of the spread of the disease geographically into other regions outside the borders of DR Congo. Two confirmed cases of the Ebola virus were recorded in Uganda, with one fatality, all of whom had been in DR Congo.
Those involved in the health sector in the affected region highlighted special caution during the handling of funerals for the victims of the Ebola virus since such practice had traditionally resulted in rapid spread of the disease outbreaks due to the nature of the funerals in Central Africa.
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A Country With Previous Experience Dealing With a New Threat
The reaction to the WHO Ebola hantavirus outbreak in DR Congo is influenced by previous experience with the virus. There have been 17 previous outbreaks of the virus in DR Congo since the first one was discovered in 1976, suggesting that there is previous experience dealing with the outbreaks; however, it also suggests that the virus is still a menace to the people living there.
Deaths Reported Onboard Dutch Cruise Ship Amid Hantavirus Outbreak
Management of WHO Ebola hantavirus outbreak includes another outbreak that occurred on a cruise ship named MV Hondius, which is flagged under the Dutch flag. There were three deaths – a couple from the Netherlands and a woman from Germany – on board the cruise ship, where 150 people on board were affected by the virus.
MV Hondius made its last stop in Rotterdam on Monday after sailing in the sea for over a month, leaving only its crew members behind since the passengers were already disembarked in the Canary Islands in collaboration with the Spanish government. Dr. Tedros acknowledged the Spanish government at the WHA for its help in the process.
