Health
WHO raises Ebola risk level as DRC outbreak worsens, reports new hantavirus cases
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the risk level of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to “very high” nationally as suspected cases approach 750, with the disease already spreading across borders into Uganda.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus announced the updated assessment on Friday during a Member State information session on the Ebola outbreak and a separate hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius.
According to the WHO, DRC has recorded 82 confirmed Ebola cases so far.
However, the agency said the outbreak is likely far larger, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths already reported.
“In Uganda, two cases have been confirmed in people who travelled from DRC, with one death,” Mr Ghebreyesus said.
Mr Ghebreyesus noted that the organisation previously assessed the outbreak risk as high nationally and regionally, and low globally, but has now revised it to “very high” at the national level, “high” regionally and “low” globally.
No approved vaccines
WHO said the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, unlike previous outbreaks driven by the Zaire strain.
The agency explained that there are currently no approved vaccines or therapeutics for the Bundibugyo virus, making containment more difficult.
WHO also noted that commonly used Ebola diagnostic tests designed for the Zaire strain do not detect the Bundibugyo strain effectively, contributing to delays in identifying the outbreak.
“There have only been two previous outbreaks of Bundibugyo, in Uganda in 2007 and DRC in 2012,” Mr Ghebreyesus said.
Conflict worsening outbreak
The organisation warned that insecurity in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu is further complicating response efforts.
According to the WHO, intensified fighting in recent months has displaced more than 100,000 people, while about four million people in the affected areas require urgent humanitarian assistance.
The agency also said approximately 10 million people are facing acute hunger.
Mr Ghebreyesus disclosed that a hospital in Ituri was attacked on Thursday, with tents and medical supplies set on fire.
“Building trust in the affected communities is critical to a successful response,” he said.
WHO said it has deployed 22 international staff to support response operations and released $3.9 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies.
Hantavirus deaths
Meanwhile, the WHO said the hantavirus outbreak linked to passengers and crew aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has now recorded 12 cases and three deaths.
The latest confirmed case involved a crew member who disembarked in Tenerife and was later repatriated to the Netherlands, where the individual remains in isolation.
WHO noted that no additional deaths have been reported since 2 May, when the outbreak was first reported.
The agency said more than 600 contacts across 30 countries are still being monitored, while efforts continue to trace a small number of high-risk contacts.
Countries supporting the response include Argentina, Cabo Verde, Chile, South Africa, Spain and the United Kingdom.
No Ebola in Nigeria
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said the country has recorded no confirmed Ebola case linked to the ongoing outbreak in Central and East Africa.
The agency said the country remains on heightened alert and has strengthened surveillance at points of entry, including airports, seaports and land borders, to prevent importation of the virus.
The health body also warned against misinformation circulating on social media suggesting that Ebola cases had been detected in Nigeria, describing such claims as false and capable of causing unnecessary panic.
READ ALSO: WHO honours six global health champions at World Health Assembly
Following the outbreak declaration, authorities said surveillance systems at points of entry had been strengthened, while emergency response mechanisms were being reviewed to improve readiness.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) also announced additional health screening measures and enhanced Ebola surveillance across international airports.
The measures include heightened passenger monitoring, screening protocols, and coordination with health authorities to detect and respond swiftly to suspected cases.
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has awarded $1.9 million to accelerate the development of a vaccine candidate against the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, as global health partners intensify efforts to respond to ongoing outbreaks in parts of Africa.
The funding was announced in a statement published on CEPI’s website on Monday and awarded to Public Health Vaccines, LLC (PHV), a long-standing partner of the coalition.
According to CEPI, the investment will support the rapid production of Master Viral Seed stock required to advance the investigational vaccine into clinical testing.
It noted that the Bundibugyo outbreak had resulted in more than 560 confirmed infections and over 100 confirmed deaths.
The statement added that no licensed vaccine currently exists against the Bundibugyo virus and none is in clinical development.
It also said CEPI could support future clinical trials if development milestones are achieved, paving the way for emergency use authorisation or eventual licensure.
It added that PHV had committed to ensuring rapid and affordable access to any successful vaccine for affected countries and vulnerable populations.
The coalition said the investment represented its fourth commitment to investigational Bundibugyo vaccine candidates, reflecting efforts to diversify research approaches.
According to CEPI, parallel investments across several vaccine platforms improve the likelihood of delivering safe and effective vaccines within shorter timelines.
The organisation said it had also mobilised laboratory networks, clinical trial partners, manufacturers and regulators to strengthen outbreak response and vaccine development activities.
It added that collaboration was ongoing with Gavi, the World Bank and other development finance institutions to explore financing options for manufacturing and procurement.
The organisation said the Bundibugyo outbreak, alongside a recent hantavirus outbreak, highlighted the importance of sustained investment in epidemic preparedness and scientific innovation.
In the statement, CEPI Chief Executive Officer, Richard Hatchett, described the epidemic as a reminder of how rapidly dangerous viruses could spread in vulnerable communities.
“This epidemic is a stark reminder of how quickly deadly viruses can spread, especially in communities already under immense strain.
“Vaccines could play an important role in bringing the outbreak under control,” Mr Hatchett said.
He said the vaccine candidate used the recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus platform, the same technology employed in a licensed vaccine against Zaire ebolavirus.
“The rVSV platform has demonstrated its value when responding to previous Zaire ebolavirus outbreaks.
“This same technology could now be vital in saving lives against Bundibugyo,” he said.
Mr Hatchett stressed that specialised processes and critical research materials required for vaccine development take time to establish, making early investment essential.
READ ALSO: Tinubu establishes Ebola task force, approves ₦10bn for preparedness
Also speaking, PHV Chief Business Officer, Michael McGinnis, welcomed the expanded partnership and expressed confidence in the vaccine candidate’s potential contribution to outbreak control efforts.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to expand our existing partnership with CEPI to now include our Bundibugyo ebolavirus vaccine candidate.
“We look forward to making a meaningful contribution to this and future outbreaks,” Mr McGinnis said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bundibugyo Ebola virus is one of the forms of Ebola virus that causes severe haemorrhagic fever in humans.
It was first identified in Uganda in 2007 and can spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids.
(NAN)
A cholera outbreak has infected thousands of people and placed growing pressure on health facilities in Borno State, with 74 deaths and 7,850 suspected cases recorded in the state since early May.
In a statement issued on 9 June, the international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, said the outbreak had spread across 14 local government areas and 50 wards, citing figures from the Borno State Ministry of Health.
According to the organisation, the number of patients requiring urgent treatment has been rising since the first suspected case was reported on 1 May.
Health facilities stretched by rising admissions
MSF said it partnered with the Borno State Ministry of Health to establish a Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) in the Ngarannam area of Maiduguri on 7 May to support the response.
The organisation said admissions increased rapidly in the weeks that followed, forcing an expansion of the facility’s bed capacity from 121 to 271.
It added that a separate 20-bed Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU) had been opened in the Dalaram area of the state capital to accommodate the growing number of patients.
As of 7 June, MSF said it had treated 7,439 patients at the two facilities, averaging about 230 admissions per day.
The organisation added that more than 500 patients suffering from acute watery diarrhoea were admitted on 5 June alone, the highest single-day admission figure recorded since the response began.
“Every day, we see more people arriving with severe watery diarrhoea and dehydration, many of whom have travelled long distances to reach care,” said Bienfait Tombola, MSF’s project medical coordinator for the emergency response in Maiduguri.
“The collaboration between the Ministry of Health, MSF and other partners has enabled a rapid scale-up of several aspects of the response, but the continued increase in cases shows that more needs to be done to prevent transmission and ensure people can access care as early as possible,” he said.
Vaccination, water access key to containment
Beyond treating patients, MSF said it is supporting healthcare worker training, establishing oral rehydration points in affected communities, conducting health promotion activities, strengthening disease surveillance and referral systems, and supporting water chlorination and sanitation interventions.
However, the organisation warned that the scale and speed of the outbreak continue to exceed current response capacity.
MSF noted that cholera and other water-borne diseases thrive in communities with inadequate access to clean water, sanitation facilities, hygiene infrastructure and healthcare services, particularly in informal settlements.
READ ALSO: Cholera kills 37 in Borno, endangers 3,000 lives
Mr Tombola said a cholera vaccination campaign planned by the Ministry of Health could help reduce transmission. Still, it stressed that long-term investments in water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure remain critical.
“While treatment is essential to save lives, a cholera vaccination is foreseen to be conducted by the Ministry of Health, and this would help cut the chains of transmission,” he said.
“Sustainable improvements in access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene are equally critical to reducing transmission and preventing risks of a continued surge in cases of waterborne diseases.”
MSF said it would continue supporting the Borno State Ministry of Health and other partners in efforts to contain the outbreak and provide lifesaving care to affected communities.
-
Health1 day agoUnsafe food causes 53,000 deaths annually in Nigeria – Minister
-
News3 days ago
Presidency Defends Response to Adelabu Relatives’ Rescue and Ogbomoso Abduction
-
Entertainment3 days ago
Jerry Jallo Unveils ‘Creative Godfather’ Identity, Reinforces Commitment to Mentorship and Creative Development
-
News4 days ago
ROAD TO THE SHOWTIME BOWL: Titans Collide In Explosive Semi-Final Showdowns At Showtime Arena
