EBOLA VIRUS
1. Context
On May 16, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a ‘public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). Just ahead of that, the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, DRC, and the Uganda Ministry of Health declared an Ebola outbreak.
2. What is a PHEIC?
- A Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) represents the highest level of global health alert issued by the World Health Organization under the International Health Regulations.
- It is declared when a health event is considered serious, unexpected, unusual, or sudden, and has the potential to spread internationally, thereby posing risks to public health in other countries.
- Such a declaration also emphasizes the need for a coordinated international response to contain and manage the outbreak.
- Recently, a fresh outbreak of Ebola was reported in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, reportedly linked to the Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain.
- As per the WHO, by May 16, Ituri Province in the DRC had recorded eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths.
- Meanwhile, Uganda reported two laboratory-confirmed infections, including one fatality, in Kampala.
- The two cases, identified within 24 hours of each other, involved individuals who had recently travelled from the DRC and showed no apparent epidemiological connection
3. What is Ebola?
- Ebola Virus Disease is a zoonotic infection that can cause severe illness and has a high fatality rate among humans. The disease is caused by the Ebola virus and is believed to have originated in wild animals such as fruit bats and non-human primates before transmitting to humans.
- Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids, secretions, or contaminated objects and surfaces.
- According to the World Health Organization, three virus species are primarily responsible for major Ebola outbreaks: Ebola virus, Sudan virus, and Bundibugyo virus, with the ongoing outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo strain.
- Ebola was first identified in 1976, and initial outbreaks were largely confined to isolated villages in Central Africa.
- However, the disease gained worldwide attention during the devastating West African outbreak between 2014 and 2016, which affected Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
- This epidemic resulted in more than 28,600 reported infections and over 11,300 deaths, making it the deadliest Ebola outbreak on record.
- The crisis marked a significant shift in the global response to Ebola by accelerating international investment in vaccine research and development.
- Consequently, two Ebola vaccines have since received approval and are available in both single-dose and two-dose regimens.
- These vaccines are mainly deployed through targeted “ring vaccination” strategies aimed at immunising close contacts of infected individuals and frontline healthcare workers as a form of post-exposure prevention.
- Additionally, monoclonal antibody therapies have been developed and are reported to significantly improve patient survival rates when administered at an early stage of infection
4. Ebola Transmission
Ebola Virus Disease spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids, contaminated materials, or infected animals. The transmission process can be understood in the following ways:
Animal-to-Human Transmission
The virus is believed to originate in wild animals and can spread to humans through contact with:
- Fruit bats, considered the natural reservoir of the virus
- Infected non-human primates such as monkeys and chimpanzees
- Handling or consuming infected bushmeat
Human-to-Human Transmission
Once the virus infects a person, it can spread through:
- Direct contact with blood, saliva, sweat, vomit, urine, semen, breast milk, or other bodily fluids of an infected individual
- Contact with broken skin or mucous membranes exposed to infected fluids
- Handling contaminated objects such as needles, bedding, clothing, or medical equipment
5. What are the measures?
- The response strategy led by the World Health Organization currently prioritises rapid identification and isolation of infected individuals, along with the prompt delivery of intensive supportive treatment such as rehydration and symptom management to lower fatality rates.
- However, effective containment of the outbreak will largely depend on swift case detection, comprehensive contact tracing, safe burial practices, and the implementation of stringent infection-prevention protocols across healthcare facilities treating patients.
- The WHO’s action plan also involves the deployment of approved vaccines and monoclonal antibody therapies to vulnerable and high-risk populations wherever possible.
- Another key component of the strategy is community engagement through social mobilisation campaigns aimed at fostering public trust, reducing stigma associated with the disease, and motivating people in affected regions to seek medical care at an early stage.
6. Way Forward
According to the WHO, controlling an Ebola outbreak requires a comprehensive set of measures that include intensive patient care, infection prevention and control practices, surveillance and contact tracing systems, laboratory support, safe and respectful burial procedures, vaccination where applicable, and strong community mobilisation efforts.
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For Prelims: Viruses, Bacteria, Immunity, Vaccine types
For Mains: 1.Discuss the challenges in controlling viral diseases and the strategies employed by governments and international organizations in addressing viral epidemics. Highlight the lessons learned from recent viral outbreaks
2.Analyze the global problem of antibiotic resistance and its implications for healthcare. Suggest policy measures and interventions to combat the growing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
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Previous Year Questions
1.Viruses can affect (UPSC CSE 2016)
1.Bacteria
2. Fungi
3. Plants
Select the correct code with the following code
A.1 and 2 only
B. 3 Only
C. 1 and 3
D. 1, 2, 3
Answer (D)
2. Which of the following statements is/ are correct? (UPSC CSE 2013)
1. Viruses lack enzymes necessary for the generation of energy
2.Viruses can be cultured in any synthetic medium
3.Viruses are transmitted from one organism to another by biological vectors only
Select the correct answer using the code given below
A. 1 Only
B. 2 and 3
C. 1 and 3
D. 1, 2, 3
Answer (A)
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Source: The Hindu
