WHO does not rule out regional and international spread of Ebola from Congo

The World Health Organization (WHO) did not rule out on Thursday a risk of regional and international transmission of the Ebola virus following a new epidemic of this haemorrhagic fever in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The reappearance of this virus in the city of Mbandaka has caused two deaths since April 21. As of April 27, “26“Seven contacts have been identified,” according to the WHO, which considers it “difficult to assess the extent of the epidemic.”

“The risk of regional and international spread of this epidemic is not excluded because the city of Mbandaka borders the Congo River and has river and land connections with the capital Kinshasa, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Angola“, the WHO said in a statement.

In addition, WHO adds, Mbandaka has air links with Kinshasa and South Ubangi province, which borders the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo.

Even so, The WHO currently rates the risk as “moderate” at the regional level and “weak” at the international level. and advises against imposing restrictions on travel or trade with the DR Congo.

However, the risk of spread within that country is considered “high” due to the presence of animal reservoirs and intermediate hosts, the high frequency of Ebola epidemics in the country, environmental factors and a weakened health system due to epidemics of cholera, measles and covid-19.

First identified in 1976 in DR Congo, then called Zaire, The Ebola virus is transmitted to humans by infected animals.Transmission between humans occurs through bodily fluids.

Its main symptoms are fever, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhea.

Since its identification in 1976, DR Congo has experienced 14 Ebola epidemics.