Global alert issued as deadly Ebola outbreak threatens 11 countries

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is confronting a new Ebola outbreak that has triggered a red alert from international aid organizations and raised global health concerns. Experts warn that the virus is spreading rapidly, potentially becoming the most lethal wave recorded in history.

A particularly dangerous aspect of the current outbreak is the involvement of a rare variant known as Bundibugyo. This strain lacks a proven medical vaccine and has a high fatality rate, ranging from 21% to 50% among infected individuals. The virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids such as sweat, blood, feces, and vomit. Symptoms include high fever, severe fatigue, intense diarrhea, and vomiting, progressing to internal and external bleeding in later stages.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, "The epidemic is currently ahead of us and leaving us behind." Health teams are struggling to contain the virus's rapid spread in the eastern DRC. Neighboring Uganda has already reported two suspected cases and one suspected death in its capital, Kampala.

Given the geographical proximity and cross-border movement, the International Red Cross has designated 10 African countries as high-risk areas for potential spread. These include Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Zambia. The escalating situation has led to the highest level of global coordination, a "public health emergency of international concern," declared since 2024.