The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the recent Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has likewise labeled the Bundibugyo strain outbreaks in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
On May 22, the WHO IHR Emergency Committee issued temporary recommendations urging strengthened disease surveillance at points of entry to detect, assess, report and manage travellers with unexplained febrile illness from areas with documented Bundibugyo virus detection, and discouraging travel to these areas. Countries bordering the DRC and Uganda, including South Sudan, are assessed to be at high risk of transmission.
Ebola disease, caused in this instance by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever with a high mortality rate. Currently, no vaccines or specific treatments have been approved for the Bundibugyo strain. India has reported no cases linked to this strain.
In line with WHO guidance, the Government of India on May 24 advised all Indian citizens to avoid non‑essential travel to the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan until further notice. Indians in or travelling to these countries are urged to follow local public health guidance and maintain heightened precautions.
