Scientists and experts have expressed their growing concerns over the spread of the latest Ebola outbreak as it moved from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring Uganda.

The World Health Organisation has declared the outbreak an emergency but added it does not meet the criteria for a pandemic.

It stated: “The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), after having consulted the States Parties where the event is known to be currently occurring, is hereby determining that the Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), but does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency, as defined in the IHR.”

The WMO added said the outbreak in the eastern Ituri province, has had some 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths reported has the potential to be “a much larger outbreak” than what is currently being detected and reported, with significant risk of local and regional spread.

Scientists say the concern is the strain of virus is one for which here is no vaccine and limited treatment options

Dr Anne Cori, associate professor in Infectious Disease Modelling, School of Public Health – Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, said: “Non-pharmaceutical interventions are cornerstones of Ebola outbreak response. These interventions include active case finding and isolation, contact tracing, and safe burials, as Ebola is very deadly (about half of infected people die) and particularly infectious around the time of death [

“Deploying these non-pharmaceutical interventions is feasible in theory, but can become very resource-intensive and challenging as soon as case numbers are large, and especially in large urban centres, highly connected areas, or areas impacted by conflict. Additionally, late detection of an outbreak can have catastrophic consequences (e.g. in West Africa)

She added: “There is limited official information released at the moment. The evidence emerging in the next few days, including the characterisation of the species (expected in the next day or so) will be critical to better understand the epidemiological risk associated with this event.

“But if the case number is confirmed to be 246 cases and if the species is confirmed to not be Zaire, this would suggest transmission has been ongoing for a while, and it would already make this outbreak the second largest ever for a non-Zaire Ebola species. In the context of an urban and well-connected area, and in the absence of a vaccine for that species, this would be concerning news.”  

Dr Daniela Manno, Clinical Assistant Professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), added: “While Ebola remains a serious disease, outbreak prevention, response, and treatment have improved significantly over the past decade. Rapid identification and isolation of cases, contact tracing, infection prevention and control measures, and safe burials are all important components of outbreak control.

“There are now vaccines available for some viruses causing Ebola disease, which can help protect healthcare workers and reduce transmission when deployed rapidly around confirmed cases and their contacts in a strategy known as ring vaccination. Early diagnosis can also allow prompt supportive care, including fluid resuscitation, pain management, and treatment of complications. In addition, specific therapeutics are now available for some Ebola viruses and can substantially reduce mortality when given early.

Dr Amanda Rojek, associate professor of Health Emergencies, Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, said: “Compared with recent outbreaks, the current outbreak already appears significant because the reported case and death counts are high. That being said, reported suspected cases are not directly comparable with confirmed/probable totals from prior outbreaks, so I would avoid drawing firm conclusions about severity until surveillance and sequencing are clearer.”