On 15 May, the Ministry of Health of Democratic Republic of Congo officially declared an Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in DRC. On the same day, health authorities in neighbouring Uganda also confirmed one case of Ebola Virus Disease. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is preparing to rapidly scale up its medical response in Ituri province, DRC, and has informed the Ugandan Ministry of Health that it is ready to support the public health authorities’ response.
Ebola disease is an infectious viral haemorrhagic fever, transmitted to humans through direct contact with blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected animals. Human-to-human transmission occurs through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.
Early symptoms can include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. These can be followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, and, in some cases, bleeding. Anyone with symptoms should seek care immediately and avoid contact with others.
There is no universally proven cure for Ebola disease, but early detection and supportive medical care significantly improve survival.
