WHO warns of a rare virus strain spreading rapidly in Central Africa.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Ebola outbreak, caused by a rare strain of the virus, in Central Africa is spreading "very rapidly".

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo: AFP/VNA.

Speaking to reporters at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak was declared on May 15 in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, but the virus may have been silently spreading for one or two months prior. Tedros acknowledged that efforts to contain the outbreak are still lagging behind and urged the international community to act more quickly to catch up with the virus's spread.

To date, the Central African region has recorded a total of 359 Ebola cases with 61 deaths. Of these, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicenter, has reported 344 cases (60 deaths) and over 100 suspected cases. Neighboring Uganda has also confirmed 15 cases, including one death. Health authorities identified the first case as a nurse in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province (DRC), but the true epicenter of the outbreak is in the mining town of Mongbwalu, 90 km away.

Notably, gene sequencing results identified the causative agent of this outbreak as Bundibugyo – a rare strain of Ebola virus for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Most Ebola vaccines currently available worldwide are only effective against the Zaire strain (the common strain that caused a tragedy resulting in approximately 2,300 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 2018 and 2020). Therefore, containing the Bundibugyo strain relies entirely on preventive measures such as isolation, early detection, and symptomatic treatment.

Given the situation, the head of the WHO urged countries imposing comprehensive travel bans on affected areas to immediately lift these restrictions. Tedros emphasized that the WHO only recommends tightening screening and testing of passengers entering and exiting the country at airports, seaports, and border crossings. He stressed that lockdowns or excessive travel restrictions do not help stop the virus; on the contrary, they are disrupting the supply chain of medical supplies and personnel, isolating efforts to contain the outbreak.

The WHO currently assesses the risk level of this outbreak as "very high" at the national level, "high" for the Central African region, and "low" globally.

Source: https://znews.vn/who-canh-bao-chung-virus-hiem-gap-bung-phat-nhanh-tai-trung-phi-post1656888.html