SYLLABUS

GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

GS-3: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Context: The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) following the spread of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola across border regions.

More on the News

• The latest Ebola outbreak originated in Ituri Province of eastern DRC and later spread to Uganda through cross-border movement, with confirmed cases reported in Kampala. 

• The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV) strain, first identified in Uganda in 2007, for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently exists. 

• The outbreak zone is affected by armed conflict, displacement, porous borders and weak healthcare infrastructure, complicating containment efforts and raising concerns over wider transmission. 

• WHO has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) to strengthen global coordination, surveillance and emergency response measures.

About Ebola Disease

• Ebola disease (EVD/EBOD) is a rare but severe zoonotic viral disease caused by viruses belonging to the Orthoebolavirus genus of the Filoviridae family. 

• The disease was first identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in present-day DRC. 

• Fruit bats are considered the natural hosts of the virus. 

• The disease spreads to humans through contact with infected animals and later through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons. 

• Human-to-human transmission occurs through contact with blood, vomit, saliva, urine, faeces, semen or contaminated surfaces/materials. 

• A person infected with Ebola becomes contagious only after symptoms appear. 

• The incubation period ranges from 2–21 days, with symptoms usually appearing within 8–10 days after exposure. 

• The average fatality rate is around 50%, though it varies depending on the strain and quality of treatment. 

• Types of Ebola Viruses Causing Human Disease

• Ebola virus (EBOV) → Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) 
• Sudan virus (SUDV) → Sudan Virus Disease (SVD) 
• Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) → Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD) 
• Taï Forest virus 

• Diagnosis: Diagnosis is confirmed through laboratory tests such as:

• RT-PCR (Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction) 
• ELISA tests 
• Antigen-capture detection tests 
• Virus isolation by cell culture 

• Treatment and Vaccines: Early intensive supportive care, including rehydration and symptom management, significantly improves survival chances. 

• WHO recommends monoclonal antibody treatments such as mAb114 (Ansuvimab) and REGN-EB3 (Inmazeb) for Ebola virus disease caused by the Zaire strain. 
• Approved vaccines include: Ervebo (single-dose vaccine) and Zabdeno and Mvabea (two-dose regimen).
• However, no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists for the Bundibugyo strain involved in the present outbreak, though candidate vaccines are under development. 

• Prevention and Control Measures: Prevention and control measures include rapid case isolation, contact tracing, safe burials, strict infection-control practices and community awareness campaigns. 

• o Health workers are advised to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), while people should avoid contact with infected persons, bodily fluids and infected wildlife.