This is not a food related issue, but of interest from a microbiology / communicable disease perspective.
There is a new Ebola outbreak that has been identified in the Republic of the Congo. "This outbreak began with a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to hospital on August 20 and died five days later. Two health workers who treated her also became infected and died. By September 15, there were 81 confirmed cases and 28 deaths, including four health workers."
"Why are health authorities worried? The largest Ebola epidemic on record began in Guinea in 2013 and spread into Liberia and Sierra Leone. It infected more than 28,000 people and killed more than 11,000."
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/ebola-outbreak-2025-symptoms-africa-congo-b2827210.html
A new Ebola outbreak has been declared. Here’s what we know
This outbreak began with a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to hospital and died five days later
C Raina MacIntyre The Conversation Ashley Quigley Mohana Priya Kunasekaran Noor Jahan Begum Bari
Tuesday 16 September 2025 05:00 BST
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has declared a new Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province. It’s caused by the most severe strain: the Zaire Ebola virus.
This outbreak began with a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to hospital on August 20 and died five days later. Two health workers who treated her also became infected and died. By September 15, there were 81 confirmed cases and 28 deaths, including four health workers.
The DRC has had 15 prior Ebola epidemics, with the largest in 2019 and the most recent in 2022.
But genetic analysis shows the outbreak likely began after a spillover from an animal to a human, rather than a continuation of earlier outbreaks.
How does it spread and what are the symptoms?
Ebola virus disease was first identified in 1976 in a village near the Ebola River in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Sudan (now South Sudan).
Fruit bats are the natural host of the virus. Humans may become infected after contact with animals such as bats, chimpanzees, antelope or porcupines.
Ebola mainly spreads through direct contact with blood or other body fluids. It can take between two to 21 days for symptoms to appear.
Symptoms can be sudden: fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headaches and sore throat start first, then progress to vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, rash, bleeding and shock.
Why are health authorities worried?
The largest Ebola epidemic on record began in Guinea in 2013 and spread into Liberia and Sierra Leone. It infected more than 28,000 people and killed more than 11,000.
But a vaccine adds to the defence this time
This outbreak can be prevented by the Ervebo vaccine (rVSV-ZEBOV), which showed 100% effectiveness in a clinical trial against Zaire Ebola when given immediately after exposure.
The vaccine was 95% effective if given 12 or more days after exposure.
Real-world effectiveness was 84% during the last Ebola outbreak in DRC.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting vaccination efforts, sending 400 doses, with more to follow.
“Ring vaccination” of contacts of known cases has started, as well as vaccination of front-line workers.
In addition to vaccination, Ebola outbreaks can be controlled by early isolation of suspected cases, tracing contacts and quarantining them.
Full Story
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/ebola-outbreak-2025-symptoms-africa-congo-b2827210.html
How does it spread and what are the symptoms?
Ebola virus disease was first identified in 1976 in a village near the Ebola River in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Sudan (now South Sudan).
Fruit bats are the natural host of the virus. Humans may become infected after contact with animals such as bats, chimpanzees, antelope or porcupines.
Ebola mainly spreads through direct contact with blood or other body fluids. It can take between two to 21 days for symptoms to appear.
Symptoms can be sudden: fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headaches and sore throat start first, then progress to vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, rash, bleeding and shock.
Why are health authorities worried?
The largest Ebola epidemic on record began in Guinea in 2013 and spread into Liberia and Sierra Leone. It infected more than 28,000 people and killed more than 11,000.
But a vaccine adds to the defence this time
This outbreak can be prevented by the Ervebo vaccine (rVSV-ZEBOV), which showed 100% effectiveness in a clinical trial against Zaire Ebola when given immediately after exposure.
The vaccine was 95% effective if given 12 or more days after exposure.
Real-world effectiveness was 84% during the last Ebola outbreak in DRC.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting vaccination efforts, sending 400 doses, with more to follow.
“Ring vaccination” of contacts of known cases has started, as well as vaccination of front-line workers.
In addition to vaccination, Ebola outbreaks can be controlled by early isolation of suspected cases, tracing contacts and quarantining them.
Full Story
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/ebola-outbreak-2025-symptoms-africa-congo-b2827210.html
No comments:
Post a Comment