Ebola Disease: Current Situation

For Everyone

Key points

  • CDC is monitoring an outbreak of Ebola disease in remote areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
  • To date, no cases of Ebola disease have been confirmed in the United States because of this outbreak.
  • The overall risk to the American public and travelers remains low.

Current situation

  • In early May, a hospital in Bunia Health Zone in northeastern DRC identified a cluster of severe illnesses affecting healthcare workers.
  • Initial samples tested in DRC were negative for Ebola virus, but by May 15, 8 out of 13 samples tested positive, and 5 were inconclusive. Using genetic fingerprinting, the illnesses were identified as Bundibugyo (BOON-de-BOON-joe) virus, one of the 4 types of orthoebolaviruses that cause Ebola disease in people.
  • There is no vaccine for Bundibugyo virus, and treatment consists of supportive care.
  • As of May 16, there are 8 laboratory-confirmed cases in DRC and reports of 248 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths for a death rate of 32%, although these numbers are subject to change as the outbreak evolves.
  • Historically, Bundibugyo virus has death rates ranging from 25-50%.
  • Patients have experienced classic Ebola disease symptoms like fever, headache, vomiting, severe weakness, abdominal pain, nosebleeds, and vomiting blood.
  • Most cases to date have been in people between 20 and 39 years old, and two-thirds have been in female patients.
  • In addition, a patient traveled from DRC to Uganda, where he became ill and died. On May 15, the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed the patient had died from Ebola disease. One high-risk contact of the deceased is currently in isolation, and no local cases in Uganda have been reported.

CDC response

CDC is supporting response efforts through our country offices in DRC and Uganda to provide technical assistance with:

  • Disease tracking and contact tracing
  • Laboratory sample collection and virus sequencing
  • Infection prevention and control (IPC) efforts
  • Local border screening
  • Coordinating with affected countries and international public health partners
  • Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control supplies
  • Risk communication and community engagement in affected areas

Resources

Print
Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)