Two individuals in Milan, northern Italy, are suspected of being infected with the Ebola virus after returning from Uganda, where they worked as aid workers for three months. The man and woman developed symptoms including high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. The man reportedly suffered intestinal problems, while the woman experienced neurological symptoms.
WHO Raises Alarm Over Bundibugyo Outbreak
On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed renewed concern over the rapidly spreading Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and neighboring Uganda. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus warned that the epidemic is outpacing response efforts and could worsen in the coming weeks. During a virtual ministerial briefing convened by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Tedros described the outbreak as extremely serious and difficult, revealing that more than 900 suspected cases and 220 suspected deaths have been recorded in the DRC.
Ebola Strains and Global Risk
Ebola disease is caused by viruses from the Orthoebolavirus genus, with three strains causing major outbreaks in humans: Ebola virus (Zaire), Sudan virus, and Bundibugyo virus. The suspected cases in Italy come amid heightened concern over Ebola outbreaks in Africa, with health authorities monitoring cross-border risks. On May 17, the WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a global health emergency as suspected infections and deaths continued to rise in eastern Congo and confirmed cases emerged beyond the initial outbreak zone.
The WHO has warned that while the risk of global spread remains low, the situation is closely monitored due to the number of cases, infections among health care workers, and outbreaks in urban areas. Ten other countries, including Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Zambia, are at risk of an Ebola outbreak, according to the Africa CDC.
