Workers doff their protective equipment in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Image: Getty Images)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has upgraded the risk level of the Ebola outbreak in Africa to ‘very high’, with 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths. Crucially, there is currently no vaccine available for the particular strain of the deadly virus, which is actively spreading across the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda.
The strain, known as Bundibugyo, is reported to be fatal in approximately one third of cases. While scientists at Oxford University are understood to be developing a vaccine, it is not expected to be ready for several months. The WHO has raised its risk assessment for the Democratic Republic of Congo from ‘high’ to ‘very high’, though the organisation maintains that the likelihood of international spread remains low, reports the Mirror.
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US doctor Jen Caudle, who boasts more than 310,000 followers on TikTok where she regularly shares vital public health guidance, has now addressed some pressing questions surrounding the disease. Speaking in a video posted to the social media platform, she said: “Many of you have been asking how contagious Ebola is. There’s some good news here.
“First of all, it’s not airborne like other pathogens you’re familiar with – covid etc – so it’s not spread through the air. Also, it requires direct contact with bodily fluids things like diarrhoea, saliva, blood, things like that.
“But when it comes down to how contagious it is, how easily transmittable it is, well, this is also some good news. It is not as transmissible or contagious as other things such as covid.”
“It is less transmissible than covid. It is less transmissible than measles, than mumps, and even chicken pox. Now, the unfortunate thing is that it is more deadly than those conditions.
“The mortality rate is very high for Ebola, and we don’t have a vaccine or specific treatments for many of the strains, most of the strains. Only one of them we have a vaccine and treatments for, the rest of the strains we do not.
“And the Bundibugyo strain, which we’re seeing the outbreak in, we do not have a vaccine or treatment specific treatments against that. There are many reasons why this outbreak is not only deadly, dangerous, it is concerning. Also we think it’s been spreading unchecked for a little while. It’s a tragedy.
“But I do want to let you know that, in terms of transmissibility, it is less contagious than some of the other conditions you know about. However, yes, it is more deadly.”
What are the symptoms of Ebola?
According to guidance issued by the UK Health Security Agency, Ebola symptoms can emerge suddenly anywhere between two and 21 days after infection. Early symptoms are similar to those of flu, and may include:
- high temperature
- extreme tiredness
- muscle aches
- sore throat
- headache
Symptoms that can develop at a later stage include:
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- stomach pain
- a skin rash
- bruising and yellowing of the skin and eyes
In more serious cases, Ebola can trigger haemorrhaging as the disease advances. This may involve blood in faeces and bleeding from various parts of the body.
