Avian Flu Diary: WHO: DRC Investigating Suspected Case of Ebola In North Kivu

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Although the West African outbreak in 2014-2016 was the largest, and deadliest, outbreak of Ebola on record the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) has been home to the most outbreaks over the past 40 years, with 8 of those coming in the past 8 years.

Over the weekend, and for the second time in 2022 (see April 2022 DRC, Equateur Province), the DRC announced they were investigating a suspected Ebola Death

This announcement from WHO AFRO.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo investigates suspected Ebola case in North Kivu

20 August 2022

Brazzaville/Kinshasa – Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are investigating a suspected case of Ebola virus disease, in the country’s eastern province of North Kivu. The country’s National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) is in the process of testing samples to determine if the patient contracted Ebola.

The suspected case is a 46-year-old woman who died on 15 August 2022 in Beni, a town located in North Kivu. The case received care at the Beni Referral Hospital, initially for other ailments, but subsequently, exhibited symptoms consistent with Ebola virus disease.

“While the analysis is ongoing, WHO is already on-the-ground supporting health officials to investigate the case and prepare for a possible outbreak,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa.

WHO staff are working with health authorities to identify anyone who came in contact with the suspected case and monitor their health. WHO will also work to ensure proper infection prevention and control measures are in place, that treatment can be made available for those who need it, and to raise awareness about Ebola among local communities.

While most Ebola outbreaks have been small (< 100 cases), and geographically limited, the 2014-2916 West African Outbreak (with 28,656 confirmed cases, and 11,323 deaths) and the 2018-2020 DRC outbreak (with 3,470 confirmed cases, and 2,287 deaths) vividly demonstrate Ebola's potential.

There are currently 6 known types of Ebolaviruses, with the most recent (Bombali) discovered in 2018.

Ebola virus (species Zaire ebolavirus)
Sudan virus (species Sudan ebolavirus)
Taï Forest virus (species Taï Forest ebolavirus, formerly Côte d’Ivoire ebolavirus)
Bundibugyo virus (species Bundibugyo ebolavirus)
Reston virus (species Reston ebolavirus)
Bombali virus (species Bombali ebolavirus)

Of these, only 4 are known to infect and sicken humans (Bombali and Reston have yet to do so). These viruses are endemic in bats, can infect non-human primates and other mammalian hosts, and occasionally spill over into humans.

Exported cases outside of Africa are rare, but have been reported (see here, here, and here).

The (FDA) has approved the Ebola vaccine, ERVEBO®, for the prevention of Ebola Virus Disease, finding it to be safe and protective, but only against the Zaire ebolavirus species of ebolavirus.

For more on ebolaviruses, you may wish to revisit: