Ebola grows and crosses borders, but risk of pandemic is low, says doctor
Uganda confirmed three new cases of Ebola, bringing the total number of infections recorded in the current outbreak in the country to five, as reported by the local Ministry of Health. The epicenter of the outbreak, however, remains in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where 867 suspected cases and more than 200 suspected deaths have been recorded.
The WHO (World Health Organization) has classified the outbreak of a rare strain of the virus as a public health emergency of international concern. In an interview with CNN Brasil, infectious disease doctor Mirian Dal Ben, from Hospital Sírio-Libanês, assessed the scenario and explained the main aspects of the disease.
"Ebola is a virus that causes a serious illness, because it can cause what we call hemorrhagic fever," he said. The infectious disease specialist highlighted that outbreaks of the disease have been known since the 1970s and that the Democratic Republic of Congo is already facing its 17th outbreak.
Mortality from Ebola, depending on the outbreak, can reach 90%, and transmission occurs easily through contact with secretions from infected people.
The current strain, known as Bundibugyo, is identified as an important cause of death from dehydration, due to intense vomiting and diarrhea that is difficult to control. Symptoms, which appear between two and 21 days after infection, include high fever, headache, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea. In more serious cases, the patient may progress to hemorrhagic fever, with a risk of bleeding.
International emergency and what it means in practice
Mirian Dal Ben explained that the declaration of public health emergency of international concern originates from the International Health Regulations, created in 2005 by WHO member states. "Once this emergency has been declared, the states will direct resources, attention from an educational point of view and funds to try to contain and monitor this epidemic more closely", detailed the specialist.
Despite the concern, Mirian Dal Ben stated that the risk of a pandemic similar to Covid-19 is still small. However, the infectious disease specialist warned of factors that worsen the current scenario. "This outbreak took a long time to be detected, mainly because the WHO has suffered a loss of resources since last year, and several programs that existed in Africa and were financed by the United States no longer have funding," he explained.
The expert also highlighted that the number of cases detected per day and per week is growing more sharply than in previous outbreaks. Furthermore, the epidemic has already crossed the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with cases registered in Uganda and an American patient transferred to Germany.
The affected region, marked by internal conflicts, humanitarian crisis, high population mobility and precarious access to healthcare, represents a set of factors that favor the spread of the disease.
Transmission and control measures
When comparing Ebola with Covid-19, Mirian Dal Ben highlighted two fundamental differences that make the virus less transmissible. The first is that Ebola is not transmitted through the air: it requires direct contact with fluids or secretions from people who are sick or have died as a result of the infection.
The second is that, unlike Covid-19, Ebola transmission generally only occurs when the patient already has symptoms, which makes contact tracing and disease control easier.
Among the effective control measures, the infectious disease specialist cited the use of personal protective equipment, such as aprons, gloves and masks, in addition to hand hygiene with soap and water. Mirian Dal Ben also drew attention to the burial rituals practiced in the region, in which physical contact with the bodies of the deceased is common for cultural reasons.
"There are reports in the literature of up to 40 or 50 people who contracted Ebola from a person who died at a funeral", he warned, highlighting that educational strategies for carrying out safer burials are also being implemented in the region.
Ebola: what it is, symptoms and treatment
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Source: CNN