An Ebola outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reached 8,665 confirmed cases and 4,178 confirmed deaths in the country, with a crude case-fatality proportion of approximately 48.2%, according to an October 7 update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak is now the second largest on record, although the CDC considers the risk of spread to the United States very low.
The outbreak surpassed 1,000 confirmed cases within 40 days of response activation, compared with approximately 235 days to reach the same threshold in the 2018 DRC outbreak. It is the country's 17th Ebola outbreak, with confirmed cases reported in 7 provinces: Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Ituri, Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu, Sud-Ubangi, and Tshopo. Sud-Kivu has reported no confirmed cases since May 29.
As of October 5, the DRC had recorded those cases and deaths. Additional cases were reported in Uganda, Kenya, and France. Uganda recorded 20 confirmed cases, 1 probable case, and 3 deaths, while Kenya reported 1 confirmed case and 1 death as of October 6. France reported 1 confirmed case and no deaths. The last confirmed cases in Uganda and France recovered and were discharged on July 16 and July 4, respectively.
The CDC cautioned that case counts remain subject to change. The DRC Ministry of Health excludes probable cases from official reporting, while suspected cases and deaths have been temporarily excluded pending further investigation and data standardization.
According to the CDC, violence against health care workers and shortages of personal protective equipment have contributed to infections among those treating patients. Limited access to health care, diagnostic testing, laboratory services, and infection prevention supplies has further complicated containment. Ongoing conflict has disrupted contact tracing, while population movement and cross-border travel increase the risk of geographic spread.
US entry restrictions prohibit travelers who have been in the DRC within 21 days of their flight from boarding commercial flights bound for the United States, including those who have transited through the country. US citizens and US nationals who have recently visited Uganda or South Sudan, but not the DRC, must enter through designated airports for enhanced screening.
The CDC recommends avoiding all travel to Ituri and Nord-Kivu and nonessential travel to Haut-Uele and Tshopo. Travelers visiting other areas of the DRC or Uganda should take enhanced precautions to avoid Ebola exposure and monitor for symptoms during travel and for 21 days after departure.
No outbreak-associated Ebola cases have been confirmed in the United States. Approximately 500 CDC personnel are involved in the response, including more than 120 deployed to affected countries.
Source: CDC
