With the World Health Organization declaring on 17 May that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, countries around the world are stepping up surveillance and preparedness measures to prevent any potential spread of the virus.
Amid the outbreak, India on Monday reviewed its preparedness and surveillance systems, with Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda directing authorities to continue operating screening, testing and surveillance mechanisms at full capacity.
Ebola outbreak Major updates
Hospitals attacked as fear spreads in Congo
The Ebola outbreak in the northeastern region of Congo is unfolding under difficult circumstances, with health workers facing shortages and security threats. At least three attacks were reported targeting medical facilities in Ituri province, where the first cases of Ebola infection appeared. Reuters news agency reported that two of these incidents occurred over the weekend at the same hospital, resulting in more than two dozen patients fleeing the facility.
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The violence revived memories of the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, during which more than 25 health workers were killed in attacks linked to mistrust and armed conflict in the region.
An Ebola patient remains missing after escaping from hospital
Reuters reported that 18 Ebola patients fled the hospital after the attack.
Authorities later traced four laboratory results linked to these patients. Three of them tested negative, while one tested positive for Ebola.
Health officials also said that one patient died while trying to escape.
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The continued movement of infected patients outside treatment facilities has raised concerns that the virus could spread further in communities already suffering from weak healthcare systems and ongoing violence.
Cases are rising across eastern Congo
The outbreak appears to have expanded rapidly throughout eastern Congo over the past few weeks.
More than 900 suspected cases of Ebola have been reported in 11 health zones spanning three eastern provinces, according to official data from Congo’s Ministry of Health, Bloomberg reported.
Uganda has confirmed new cases of Ebola
The Associated Press (AP) reported that Congolese authorities officially declared the outbreak on May 15, although officials believe transmission may have begun several days or even weeks earlier.
Uganda, which shares a border with Congo, also reported new cases linked to the outbreak. On Monday, Ugandan authorities confirmed two new cases, both of them health workers. This brought the total number of cases in the country to seven.
India intensifies testing and surveillance
In India, Jagat Prakash Nadda on Monday reviewed the country’s preparedness measures amid growing international concern about the outbreak, according to a press release.
The government said that no case of Ebola virus disease has been reported in India so far.
During a high-level review meeting with senior officials from the Federal Ministry of Health, Nadda assessed the monitoring systems and directed the authorities to ensure that preventive measures remain in full force.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issues directives to airlines
In an order dated May 22, the DGCA said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has issued standard operating procedures for health preparedness in view of the outbreak. The order noted that countries bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, including South Sudan, “have been assessed as being at high risk of disease transmission.”
(With inputs from agencies)
