UK health officials issue Ebola update after outbreak abroad

The WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday (May 17) following an outbreak of Ebola, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reassured the public that the risk of Ebola reaching the UK remains low despite the recent outbreak, as it continues to monitor the infectious disease.

What is Ebola?

Ebola is a rare but serious viral disease that affects humans and some animals.

It is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids, contaminated materials, or, in rare cases, infected animals such as bats or non-human primates in endemic regions.

The virus was first discovered during outbreaks in 1976 in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Sudan (now South Sudan).

There were no reported human cases worldwide between 1979 and 1994.

However, outbreaks have since occurred intermittently, including the large West African outbreak from 2014 to 2016.

Ebola symptoms

Symptoms typically appear “suddenly” between two and 21 days after infection, according to the UKHSA.

It can begin with flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat, and headache.

As the illness progresses, patients may develop:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Abdominal pain
• Rash
• Bruising
• Jaundice
• Internal or external bleeding (severe cases)

Ebola is not contagious until symptoms start to show.

Is Ebola fatal?

Ebola can be fatal.

The disease has a high fatality rate, with approximately 50% of cases resulting in death, though rates have ranged from 25 to 90% in past outbreaks.

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What does the Ebola outbreak mean for the UK?

The current Ebola outbreak poses a “low” risk to the UK population, the UKHSA confirmed.

It explained: “Although the outbreak is serious, it is rare for Ebola cases to occur in returning travellers.

“In the UK, the NHS has safe procedures in place for any such cases and specialist centres where they can be looked after.”

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