More about the Bundibugyo virus, the Ebola species that is wreaking havoc: a strain that has no vaccines or treatment
Healthcare workers and families of sick people face the greatest risk, with a high infection rate among them
The outbreak of the Ebola virus subspecies known as Bundibugyo has killed nearly 120 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Unlike other Ebola viruses, this variant is less common and lacks effective treatments and vaccines.
Bundibugyo has caused two previous outbreaks since its identification in 2007. These occurred in the same region of the Congo River Basin, underscoring its persistent threat to public health.
The virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of affected people. Healthcare workers and family members of the sick are those who face the greatest risk, with a high rate of infection among them.
“There is nothing that is even remotely ready for clinical trials,” said Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist who treated patients in West Africa during the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic. “This means that first responders, health workers and other humanitarian personnel are back to basics,” he told the Associated Press (AP).
Mortality and treatment
The mortality rate of the Bundibugyo virus is slightly lower than that of the Zaire virus, although it can reach alarming levels of over 30%. This represents a serious concern for health systems.
Despite the lack of specific treatments, rapid public health responses, including isolation and supportive medical care, are crucial. This allows for the administration of fluids and basic care, potentially reducing mortality.
Containment strategies
Health workers are implementing containment strategies aimed at contact tracing and public education on prevention.
Experience from previous outbreaks indicates that the safe management of burials is essential to limit the spread of the virus. Adequate provision of personal protective equipment is equally vital for healthcare professionals on the front lines of response.
Despite the challenges, experts emphasize that all previous Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been successfully stopped, offering a ray of hope and a model to follow in this current crisis.
WHO concerned about magnitude of outbreak and speed of spread
Meanwhile, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, openly expressed concern about the “magnitude and speed” of the outbreak of the rare type of Ebola in eastern Congo. Authorities reported a sharp increase in suspicious deaths — at least 134 — and more than 500 suspected cases, AP reports.
The virus spread undetected for weeks after the first known death, as authorities tested for a more common type of Ebola and the results were negative. The worst: there are no approved medications or vaccines against the Bundibugyo virus.
Added to this is that they have not yet identified “patient zero” of the outbreak, said the head of the WHO team in Congo.
Symptoms of Bundibugyo virus vs. other strains
The symptoms of the Bundibugyo virus do not usually differ clearly from those of other strains of Ebola: the typical picture begins suddenly with high fever, headache, muscle pain, sore throat and severe fatigue, and can then progress to vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash and, in severe cases, bleeding and organ failure.
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