Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
by Ilya Maximov
[Regnum] The Ebola outbreak in Africa, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, continues to break records. According to the Africa CDC, as of early November, the death toll has exceeded 5,300, and the total number of confirmed cases has surpassed 10,500—making it the fastest-growing and most widespread Ebola epidemic in history.
Unlike previous outbreaks, the current one has affected three regions simultaneously for the first time—East, Central, and West Africa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has been hit hardest by the disease, has become the main focus. Isolated cases have also been reported in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, but the latter two countries currently have no active cases.
The age distribution of deaths is particularly alarming: about a third of those who die are children. Among those infected under five, approximately three out of four die. This is due to the immaturity of the immune system and difficulties in early diagnosis, as in the early stages, Ebola can easily be confused with another virus.
"We didn't expect to reach this milestone so quickly. Ten thousand people affected by Ebola in such a short time is truly shocking," Katie Thomas-Canfield, acting director of the epidemic response at the International Rescue Committee, told NPR.
The World Health Organization (WHO) agrees. "This is a tragic milestone—it's not just a matter of numbers. Behind them are families and entire communities devastated by this outbreak. It also demonstrates the gravity of the situation," said Dr. Patrick Otim, WHO's head of programs in the African region, in an interview with NBC.
Ebola is a severe, highly fatal viral disease transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated objects. The virus is not spread through the air, and a person is not contagious until symptoms appear—fever, severe weakness, vomiting, and diarrhea—which can rapidly progress and lead to death.
The situation is complicated by the fact that the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is currently no approved vaccine, so doctors are forced to rely on symptomatic treatment. Trials are underway, and two more developments have recently been approved for participation. However, even the development of a new drug will not be a panacea, experts warn.
"Vaccines alone won't end this epidemic, but they can be a powerful new tool for containing it," warned WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He said it's crucial to prioritize early detection of new cases and contact tracing.
The problem is that the situation is still far from under control: approximately two-thirds of deaths occur outside of treatment centers, with patients mostly dying at home, leading to further transmission of the disease during caregiving and funeral preparations.
As a result, approximately 80% of new cases arise outside of traceable contact chains—the virus spreads along unknown routes, making containment extremely difficult. This rapid spread is due not only to the properties of Ebola itself, but also to a host of sociopolitical factors.
According to a survey by the International Rescue Committee, 85% of respondents in North Kivu, one of the affected regions of the DRC, do not trust health workers and therefore do not seek help. Some do not believe in the epidemic at all, while others believe doctors are simply profiting from it.
Local health workers have been repeatedly attacked. Last week, an angry mob in the town of Bafwasende beat to death a nurse who responded to a call to investigate a possible case of infection.
Also in the northeast of the DRC, where the main outbreaks are concentrated, a conflict involving a number of armed groups continues. This further limits healthcare workers' access to the population and makes comprehensive epidemiological surveillance impossible.
The situation is complicated by delays in payment of salaries to health workers involved in containing the outbreak. Last Friday, one of the treatment centers in Ituri province, the hardest hit by the current epidemic, was forced to close due to this delay.
"We're tired of demanding wages. If they want to pay us, they will. <…> Today, feeding our families has become a real problem," one of the striking workers told NBC. Similar situations are observed in other regions of the DRC.
Amid the failure to stop the spread of the virus, warnings of a global threat are growing louder. Jean Casey, Director-General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, compared the current situation to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many countries thought they were safe, only to become new epicenters within months.
"We want all countries to know they are not safe unless they take appropriate measures," he told The Guardian, calling on every country on every continent to increase their preparedness and ensure treatment options. He added, "Ebola can affect anyone."
Following these warnings, two infected people were brought to Europe.
In late October, a Swiss citizen who contracted Ebola in Nigeria (presumably during a trip to Uganda) was evacuated home along with her diplomat husband. The woman, a 42-year-old Ugandan, was hospitalized at the University Hospital of Geneva, and her husband was admitted to the University Hospital of Zurich; both are in isolation, although the man is asymptomatic.
This case was the only one in Nigeria, and it raised particular concern, as it is Africa's most populous country. Health officials are continuing to conduct contact tracing.
The first British citizen infected in the current outbreak was recently reported. He was a healthcare worker who became infected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during a humanitarian mission.
On November 4, the UK government confirmed that he would be brought into the country, scheduled to happen today. He will be placed in a special unit dedicated to treating highly infectious diseases.
Infected medical workers were already evacuated to France, the Netherlands, and Germany this summer. With the two new cases, the total number of such evacuations has reached six.
The French patient is known to have had a relatively mild form of the disease and recovered. The data of the others are protected by medical confidentiality, but their cases were also classified as controlled.
While the treatment of those infected brought to Europe is being carried out in compliance with all necessary safety protocols, some experts note that this situation is still alarming.
"The infection of a British healthcare worker with the Ebola virus is deeply concerning, but not entirely unexpected," said Dr. Damien Tully of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. He added, "Even with strict protective measures, accidental exposure to the virus can occur."
Russia, as before, has not recorded a single case. Rospotrebnadzor strengthened sanitary and quarantine controls at all checkpoints back in the spring, and also deployed the automated "Perimeter" system to assess risks and minimize the spread of infection.
Meanwhile, as Ebola continues to spread and healthcare systems in affected areas struggle, the risk of further spread to neighboring countries remains, and with it, the possibility of the epidemic spreading beyond Africa.
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