6 Americans reportedly exposed to Ebola. What to know about the latest outbreak.
According to reports, at least six Americans have been exposed to the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Three of the exposures are considered high risk, while one American may have developed symptoms, CBS News reported, citing sources from international aid organizations.
It is stated that at least 88 people lost their lives in the epidemic, which was declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it was supporting interagency partners “actively coordinating the safe withdrawal of a small number of Americans” affected by the outbreak.
“The risk to the American public remains low,” he added.
Here’s everything you need to know about the outbreak.
Where is the Ebola outbreak?
As of May 17, there were 336 suspected Ebola cases and 88 deaths, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All but two of the cases, both reported in neighboring Uganda, originate from the DRC.
The CDC advised Americans in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda to “take enhanced precautions” and stay away from people with symptoms.
The earliest known suspected case, a 59-year-old man, developed symptoms on April 24 and died in a hospital in Ituri on April 27. Ituri is a remote province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, more than 1000 km from the capital Kinshasa.
The current strain of Ebola is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which was first detected in 2007. There are no approved drugs or vaccines for this type.
More than 20 Ebola outbreaks have occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, but this is only the third time the Bundibugyo virus has been detected.
According to Doctors Without Borders, the mortality rate of the Bundibugyo species is estimated to be between 25-40%.
What did WHO say?
WHO Declared the Ebola disease outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. However, he said that the epidemic did not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency such as Covid-19 and recommended that international borders should not be closed.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there were “significant uncertainties” about the “actual number of infected people and geographic spread.”
He added: “There is also limited understanding of the epidemiological links to known or suspected cases.”
What are the symptoms?
Ebola virus is highly contagious and causes a rare but serious and often fatal disease in humans.
Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and bleeding.
