The current Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is three times larger than any previous Ebola outbreak four weeks after being declared a public health emergency, Africa CDC epidemiologist Wessam Mankoula, MD, said in a briefing.
The largest Ebola outbreak in history, which affected West Africa in 2016 and infected an estimated 28,600 people, only had 242 cases registered at four weeks. The current outbreak currently has more than 1,000 cases and more than 250 deaths.
Here are six updates.
1. There are now 1,003 confirmed cases and 254 confirmed deaths in Congo – a roughly 38% increase in cases in a single week. A total of 100 people have recovered from Ebola, and at least 365 patients are currently in hospitals or in isolation with the infection, ABC News reported.
2. Contact tracing remains a key issue in this outbreak with only a 55% coverage rate, and more than 35,000 people who have come into contact with infected individuals as of last week, ABC News reported. Officials said they believe the outbreak continues to outpace response efforts, and the true scale of the outbreak is not yet known. They have not yet identified patient zero.
3. The U.S. CDC is releasing an additional $105 million in emergency funding to aid in the Ebola outbreak response in Congo and Uganda, and it is increasing the field staff from 23 to 125. The U.S. is one of the biggest donors to the response efforts and is asking others to contribute.
4. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is scaling its supply chain operations and expects to deliver 181 Safe and Dignified Burial kits to support more than 3,600 burials, 16,450 body bags, 550 personal protective equipment kits and 24 vehicles to Congo in the first half of July.
5. Adding to the complexity of the outbreak, at least 2 million people were forcibly displaced from their homes due to violence, and there are over 320,000 refugees living in areas at risk of Ebola. The U.N. refugee agency said it was concerned about the accelerated spread of the virus and “the growing risks it poses to displaced communities across the region.”
6. The U.S. has extended its travel restrictions on June 21 for people who were recently in Congo, Uganda or South Sudan. The restrictions will be in effect for 30 days. U.S. citizens and nationals may still enter the U.S. but will undergo enhanced screening.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
