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Rachel V Thomas

How Did The 3rd Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak Begin? Experts Say Delayed Detection Fueled Spread

The third recorded outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/ebola">Ebola</a></span> in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The 17th outbreak of <span>Ebola virus</span> in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has claimed over 130 lives, with more than 513 suspected cases, BBC quoted local officials as saying.

As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are also two confirmed cases and one death in Uganda.

With the disease spreading to newer regions and both the death toll and case count rising, experts have raised fresh global health concerns, noting that delayed detection may have allowed the virus to spread across multiple regions.

According to health authorities, early tests failed to identify the correct Ebola strain, leading to crucial weeks being lost before containment efforts began.

<h2><span rel="noindex">Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak</span>: A Look At How It All Began</h2>

The first known case was reportedly a healthcare worker in Bunia, DRC, who began experiencing fever, hemorrhaging, vomiting, and intense malaise on April 24. That person later died, according to the WHO.

However, it took another three weeks before health officials officially confirmed that Ebola was spreading.

<strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/ebola-outbreak-university-of-glasgow-researcher-explains-why-bundibugyo-virus-is-concerning-article-154345470" data-type="tilCustomLink">Ebola Outbreak: University of Glasgow Researcher Explains Why Bundibugyo Virus Is Concerning</a>

The WHO noted that a critical four-week detection gap between the onset of symptoms in the presumed index case, and the laboratory confirmation of the outbreak on May 14, suggests a low clinical index of suspicion among healthcare providers.

“This is compounded by the presence of co-circulating arboviruses and influenza-like illnesses, masking the initial index of suspicion for Ebola disease and exacerbating community transmission,” the WHO said.

Further, the infection and death of four healthcare workers within four days at Mongbwalu General Referral Hospital underscores critical breaches in infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols. A large number of community deaths have also been reported, potentially associated with unsafe burial practices, the WHO added.

The US CDC stated that the initial samples tested in DRC were negative for the Ebola virus, but by May 15, eight out of 13 samples tested positive, while five were inconclusive.

Using genetic fingerprinting, the illnesses were identified as the Bundibugyo virus, one of the four types of orthoebolaviruses that cause Ebola disease in people.

On May 17, the WHO declared the <span>Ebola outbreak</span> in Central Africa a “public health emergency of international concern.”

This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in DRC since 1976. The previous outbreak ended in December 2025.

The current outbreak is the third involving the Bundibugyo virus. The strain was first identified during an outbreak in Uganda in 2007, which resulted in 131 cases and 42 deaths.

Another Bundibugyo outbreak was reported in 2012, killing 50 per cent of infected people in Uganda and 34 per cent in DR Congo.

Ebola 101: The Key Facts Behind The Deadly Virus #shorts #shortsfeed

<h2>Bundibugyo Ebola OutbreakWhy Delayed Detection Is Concerning</h2>

Speaking exclusively to <strong><em>HealthandMe</em></strong>, Professor Emma Thomson, Director of the Centre for Virus Research (Virology) in the School of Infection and Immunity at University of Glasgow, said the initial negative GeneXpert Ebola tests suggest the outbreak may have gone undetected for some time.

“The reports that initial GeneXpert Ebola testing was negative suggest that the outbreak may have gone undetected for some time, with early diagnostic blind spots delaying recognition,” she said.

Notably, Ebola cases have also been identified in Kinshasa and Kampala. According to Professor Emma, the spread to locations “hundreds of kilometers from Ituri province” indicates that the virus had already moved through human mobility networks before full containment measures were in place.

As a result, “the number of cases is going to go up pretty dramatically,” public health expert and Ebola survivor Craig Spencer told Associated Press.

Health experts stated that the outbreak went undetected for weeks because early tests looked for the wrong strain of the virus.

“Because early tests looked for the wrong strain of Ebola, we got false negatives and lost weeks of response time,” Matthew M Kavanagh of Georgetown University told AP. “We are playing catch-up against a very dangerous pathogen.”

<h2>Bundibugyo Ebola: No Approved Vaccine Or Treatment</h2>

More concerning is the fact that the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, a rare form of Ebola for which there are no approved vaccines or specific treatments.

“We do not currently have a proven, licensed, Bundibugyo-virus-specific vaccine available for outbreak control,” Professor Emma told <strong><em>HealthandMe</em></strong>, stressing the need for urgent vaccine research.

She also highlighted the importance of strengthening therapeutics against the Ebola virus.

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The third recorded outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO).The 17th outbreak of Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has claimed over 130 lives, with more than 513 suspected cases, BBC quoted local officials as saying. As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are also two confirmed cases and one death in Uganda.With the disease spreading to newer regions and both the death toll and case count rising, experts have raised fresh global health concerns, noting that delayed detection may have allowed the virus to spread across multiple regions.According to health authorities, early tests failed to identify the correct Ebola strain, leading to crucial weeks being lost before containment efforts began.Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak: A Look At How It All BeganThe first known case was reportedly a healthcare worker in Bunia, DRC, who began experiencing fever, hemorrhaging, vomiting, and intense malaise on April 24. That person later died, according to the WHO.However, it took another three weeks before health officials officially confirmed that Ebola was spreading.Also read: Ebola Outbreak: University of Glasgow Researcher Explains Why Bundibugyo Virus Is ConcerningThe WHO noted that a critical four-week detection gap between the onset of symptoms in the presumed index case, and the laboratory confirmation of the outbreak on May 14, suggests a low clinical index of suspicion among healthcare providers.“This is compounded by the presence of co-circulating arboviruses and influenza-like illnesses, masking the initial index of suspicion for Ebola disease and exacerbating community transmission,” the WHO said.Further, the infection and death of four healthcare workers within four days at Mongbwalu General Referral Hospital underscores critical breaches in infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols. A large number of community deaths have also been reported, potentially associated with unsafe burial practices, the WHO added.The US CDC stated that the initial samples tested in DRC were negative for the Ebola virus, but by May 15, eight out of 13 samples tested positive, while five were inconclusive.Using genetic fingerprinting, the illnesses were identified as the Bundibugyo virus, one of the four types of orthoebolaviruses that cause Ebola disease in people.On May 17, the WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa a “public health emergency of international concern.”This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in DRC since 1976. The previous outbreak ended in December 2025.The current outbreak is the third involving the Bundibugyo virus. The strain was first identified during an outbreak in Uganda in 2007, which resulted in 131 cases and 42 deaths.Another Bundibugyo outbreak was reported in 2012, killing 50 per cent of infected people in Uganda and 34 per cent in DR Congo.   Bundibugyo Ebola OutbreakWhy Delayed Detection Is ConcerningSpeaking exclusively to HealthandMe, Professor Emma Thomson, Director of the Centre for Virus Research (Virology) in the School of Infection and Immunity at University of Glasgow, said the initial negative GeneXpert Ebola tests suggest the outbreak may have gone undetected for some time.“The reports that initial GeneXpert Ebola testing was negative suggest that the outbreak may have gone undetected for some time, with early diagnostic blind spots delaying recognition,” she said.Notably, Ebola cases have also been identified in Kinshasa and Kampala. According to Professor Emma, the spread to locations “hundreds of kilometers from Ituri province” indicates that the virus had already moved through human mobility networks before full containment measures were in place.As a result, “the number of cases is going to go up pretty dramatically,” public health expert and Ebola survivor Craig Spencer told Associated Press.Health experts stated that the outbreak went undetected for weeks because early tests looked for the wrong strain of the virus.“Because early tests looked for the wrong strain of Ebola, we got false negatives and lost weeks of response time,” Matthew M Kavanagh of Georgetown University told AP. “We are playing catch-up against a very dangerous pathogen.”Bundibugyo Ebola: No Approved Vaccine Or TreatmentMore concerning is the fact that the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, a rare form of Ebola for which there are no approved vaccines or specific treatments.“We do not currently have a proven, licensed, Bundibugyo-virus-specific vaccine available for outbreak control,” Professor Emma told HealthandMe, stressing the need for urgent vaccine research.She also highlighted the importance of strengthening therapeutics against the Ebola virus.

how did the 3rd bundibugyo ebola outbreak begin? experts say delayed detection fueled spread

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How Did The 3rd Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak Begin? Experts Say Delayed Detection Fueled Spread

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