The Resurgence of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Five months after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) declared the end of its 16th Ebola outbreak in the Bulape region, a rare strain of the disease has re-emerged. This time, it is the Bundibugyo strain, first identified in Uganda in 2007. This marks the 17th outbreak since the Ebola virus was first isolated in 1976. The 10th outbreak, caused by the Zaire strain, resulted in over 2,300 deaths between 2018 and 2020 in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
The current outbreak is particularly concerning as it is occurring in a conflict zone, where many people have been displaced from their homes. Delays in reporting cases have contributed to the spread of the virus. Infected communities have reportedly sought treatment from prayer centers and witchdoctors, believing the virus to be a form of witchcraft or mystical illness.
This situation calls for vigilance in Nigeria, which has previously faced similar health challenges. Like the recently identified Hantavirus, which is transmitted from animals such as mice, rats, and voles to humans, the Ebola virus typically infects animals, especially fruit bats. Humans can contract the virus through contact with infected animals or their bodily fluids, including blood, semen, saliva, or vomit.
Symptoms of Ebola, which include flu-like symptoms, fever, headache, and tiredness, usually appear within two to 21 days. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, and potentially organ failure. Medical experts attribute the frequent outbreaks in DRC to unsafe food practices, a poor healthcare system, and limited access to clean water.
As of May 21, the DRC and Uganda Ministries of Health reported a total of 575 suspected cases, 51 confirmed cases, and 148 suspected deaths. The epicenters of the outbreak are in the northeastern Ituri province and the North Kivu province. Two infected individuals in Uganda are Congolese nationals who had traveled from DRC. One of them died in Kampala, while the second is being treated. It is suspected that there could be over 1,000 active cases.
The World Health Organisation has declared this outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Incidentally, DR Congo will participate in the FIFA World Cup Finals 2026, held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June 11 to July 19. Consequently, the Congo national team has canceled its home preparations and moved its camp to Belgium. DR Congo will play against Portugal in Houston (the US), Colombia in Guadalajara (Mexico), and Uzbekistan in Atlanta (the US). It will be interesting to see how FIFA, the US, and Mexican authorities handle the issue of Congolese fans traveling there for the competition.
Tragically, this particular strain of Ebola is challenging and harder to treat. Like hantavirus, it currently has no vaccine or drugs available. The WHO has allocated $3.9 million to tackle the outbreak. Since the United States withdrew from the WHO, Nigeria and other countries at risk must intensify research to eradicate the deadly disease.
Nigeria has experienced similar challenges before. In July 2014, a Liberian-American diplomat, Patrick Sawyer, brought the virus into Nigeria. He collapsed at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and was rushed to First Consultants Medical Centre. A Nigerian female doctor, Ameyo Adadevoh, quarantined Sawyer and prevented him from leaving the hospital, ultimately saving lives. She later died of the disease on August 19, 2014.
Nigerian health authorities responded by establishing an Emergency Operations Centre, conducting intensive contact tracing, and enforcing strict isolation measures. These efforts helped contain the virus within three months, resulting in eight deaths, including Adadevoh. For her bravery, she was posthumously awarded the Officer of the Order of the Niger in October 2022 and the National Productivity Order of Merit in May 2022.
Despite these achievements, Nigeria has not yet produced a vaccine against some of these viruses. It continues to battle Lassa fever, which has claimed about 170 lives this year alone. So far, there are no confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has assured the public that there is no need to panic.
According to the NCDC, the country has the capacity to combat the disease through nationwide surveillance and emergency preparedness measures. These include monitoring points of entry into the country in collaboration with Port Health Services, optimizing diagnostic capacity at designated facilities, and issuing public health updates. Multidisciplinary emergency response teams are also on standby for immediate deployment if needed.
Bureaucracy should not hinder efforts to tackle this problem. Proper screening of people entering the country is essential. Lagos, Kano, Abuja, Enugu, and all entry points into Nigeria should be well manned. The country’s borders must be strengthened, and testing kits should be available at such locations.
Health workers should assess patients with symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, or unexplained bleeding for exposure risk. Those with symptoms compatible with Ebola should be immediately isolated and hospitalized. Nigerians should take preventive measures to avoid contracting the disease, including avoiding contact with sick individuals and dead bodies. Non-human primates and bats should also be avoided.
Citizens should beware of mines and caves inhabited by bats and ensure extra screening for those in the mining industry, especially in high-risk areas like DRC. Nigerians should avoid non-essential travel to high-risk countries and protect themselves if they choose to travel. They should isolate themselves if symptoms appear and seek medical advice.
In addition, Nigerians should observe safety protocols and public health measures from the global coronavirus pandemic, such as handwashing, social distancing, and the use of sanitizers. Those who consume undercooked meat or food should be cautious.
Health authorities, in conjunction with the National Orientation Agency, should conduct public awareness campaigns to educate the population on the causes, symptoms, and preventive measures of the disease. The country should establish isolation centers and be prepared for emergencies. Preparation is crucial in preventing the disease from becoming a pandemic.
