Ituri province is known for its mines and shares borders with South Sudan and Uganda. Africa CDC said they were convening an urgent meeting among local governments and other parties to coordinate disease surveillance and planning. In the press release, they raised concerns that the virus may spread within the region and beyond, citing the highly mobile local population, insecurity in the local area,and other challenges.
“Africa CDC stands in solidarity with the Government and people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as they respond to this outbreak,” said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC in a prepared statement. “Given the high population movement between affected areas and neighbouring countries, rapid regional coordination is essential.”
Public-health experts from Imperial College London, in a Q&A posted on the university’s website, said that if the suspected case numbers are confirmed, this would suggest there has been transmission for several weeks already, with late detection. “In addition, if it is confirmed that this is not the Zaire species, this could be potentially challenging to control,” the statement said. Already, the suspected case numbers would make this the second-largest non-Zaire strain Ebola outbreak in history.
