The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has activated a Level 1 response, its highest internal alert, for the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The announcement came alongside the shipment of experimental treatments to the affected region.
“Our assessment is that the risk to the US continues to remain low,” said Satish Pillai, who is leading the Ebola response at the CDC. The agency previously employed a Level 1 response during the worst-ever Ebola epidemic in 2014.
Experimental Treatments and Testing
The US Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that Washington is working on a vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is responsible for the current outbreak. Additionally, doses of an experimental treatment known as MBP134 are being sent to the DRC and Uganda. Further doses will be sent to the University of Oxford in Britain for a clinical trial.
The US is also preparing to dispatch 2,500 diagnostic tests to screen deceased victims and determine which Ebola strains are present, aiding containment efforts in Africa.
Outbreak Statistics and Regional Spread
Just over a month after the outbreak was declared, 1,115 confirmed infections have been recorded in the DRC, with 304 deaths. The virus has spread to Uganda, where containment measures have been effective. Uganda has reported 20 confirmed cases nationwide, including two deaths, since May 15.
US health officials have warned that if not quickly contained, the outbreak could reach or surpass the scale of the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic, which originated in Guinea and killed more than 11,000 people across West Africa, according to the World Health Organization.
No Approved Vaccines for Current Strain
No approved vaccines or treatments exist specifically for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. The CDC official noted that the heightened response level is an internal cue indicating the outbreak is a top priority. “We will mobilize staffing and additional resources as efficiently and rapidly as possible,” he added.
Travel Restrictions in DRC
The DRC has imposed strict travel restrictions to curb the spread. A 21-day quarantine is required for anyone returning from Ebola-affected areas before they can travel abroad. Anyone who has stayed in an Ebola-affected province may only travel abroad after spending at least 21 days outside the area. Additionally, individuals identified as contacts of confirmed or suspected Ebola cases must undergo 21 days of active health monitoring from their last exposure, during which all travel, domestic or international, is banned unless expressly authorized by health authorities.
