The true extent of the current Ebola outbreak in Africa may be significantly greater than official figures indicate, with the virus potentially spreading undetected, according to a warning from Oxfam. The charity's assessment comes after the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) health ministry reported 72 new cases in a single day, one of the highest daily totals since the outbreak began in the DRC last month. The ministry stated there have been 782 confirmed cases and 181 deaths, with 51 recoveries. Neighboring Uganda has reported an additional 19 deaths.
These figures contrast with the World Health Organization (WHO) director-general's statement that the outbreak had killed over 220 people with close to 1,000 suspected cases by the end of May. Oxfam attributes the potential underestimation of the outbreak's scale to a lack of resources in Ituri, a region identified as an epicenter. The charity reported that only one in five health facilities in Ituri have access to adequate clean water, a critical element in preventing transmission. Additionally, frontline health workers reportedly lack essential protective equipment, hindering containment efforts.
Manel Rebordosa, Oxfam's field response coordinator in Ituri, highlighted the scarcity of clean water and sanitation facilities, particularly for miners who then return to communities already affected by the virus. The cost of clean water is prohibitive for most local families. Oxfam also raised concerns about the effectiveness of contact tracing, which is reaching only 43% of known contacts—considerably lower than the nearly 80% achieved during the 2018 to 2020 Ebola outbreak in the same region.
Rebordosa attributed this decline to a withdrawal of U.S. funding for disease surveillance and significant funding shortfalls, stating that the reduced contact tracing allows the virus to spread undetected. The situation is further complicated by ongoing conflict in eastern DRC since March 2022, which has resulted in the destruction of over 70 healthcare facilities and a severely limited ratio of doctors to the population. Patients in areas like North Kivu are reportedly dying before receiving an Ebola diagnosis, potentially contributing to the undercounted case numbers.
Global funding to the DRC has decreased by nearly half, to approximately £1 billion, the lowest in a decade. Fears that the virus could become a global concern have been amplified by statements from the U.S. health protection agency suggesting the current outbreak could be the largest on record. Suspected cases briefly appeared in Brazil, Italy, and Austria but tested negative. The UK's National Health Service (NHS) has also advised its staff to prepare for potential imported cases, emphasizing the need for rapid identification, isolation, and adequate personal protective equipment for healthcare providers.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no existing vaccine. The Bundibugyo strain was first recorded in 2007 and reappeared in the DRC in 2012, though those previous outbreaks were smaller. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, potentially progressing to internal bleeding and organ failure. Scientists are working on developing a vaccine, but it is expected to take several months before it can be tested on humans and potentially reach patients in affected regions. The WHO declared the current outbreak an international health emergency on May 17.