The outbreak is outpacing us: Inside Congo's fight against rare Ebola strain, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• An outbreak of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus is rapidly spreading in Goma, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo.
• The current outbreak has already surpassed the number of cases reported in previous Bundibugyo virus outbreaks in Uganda (2007-2008) and DRC (2012).
• The strain has a high fatality rate of 30% to 50% and currently lacks an approved vaccine or cure.
• Challenges include limited diagnostic capacity, inadequate surveillance, difficulties in contact tracing, and issues with community engagement, exacerbated by conflict and population movement.
• India has activated rigorous surveillance protocols, including airport screening and isolation wards, after suspected cases from DRC tested negative.

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Detailed Insights:

• Goma, a city with over 1 million people and a bustling cross-border economy with Rwanda, serves as a significant transit hub, contributing to the rapid spread of the virus.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) emergency medical coordinator Dr. Kerry Dierberg highlighted that the response efforts are being outpaced by the epidemic's rapid evolution.
• The absence of rapid diagnostic tests specifically for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus and limited access to specialized laboratories for PCR testing delay case confirmation and isolation.
• Despite DRC's prior experience with Ebola surveillance and response, the current system is struggling to contain this particular outbreak.
• The affected areas are characterized by ongoing conflict, poor health infrastructure, and attacks on healthcare workers, further complicating response efforts.
• MSF has also pointed out the limited number of expert medical organizations on the ground and insufficient support to address the scale of the crisis.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Ebola Virus Disease (EVD): A severe, often fatal illness in humans and other primates caused by ebolaviruses.
• Bundibugyo Ebola virus: One of the six known species of Ebola virus, responsible for the current outbreak in DRC.
• PCR Testing: A molecular test that detects genetic material from a specific organism, used here for definitive diagnosis of the virus.
• Epidemiology: The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the control of health problems.
• Contact Tracing: The process of identifying people who may have come into contact with an infected person and monitoring them for symptoms.