Public Health Emergency: The Ebola virus has once again raised global concerns. Currently, there is no effective vaccine or specific treatment available for the strain that has emerged this time.

How does the Ebola virus spread?

How Ebola Virus Spreads Among Humans: The Ebola virus spreading in parts of Africa has once again raised global concerns. Recently, the World Health Organization declared the Ebola infection spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda an international public health emergency. According to the report, as of May 16, 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths have been reported in the Ituri province of the DRC, while some cases have also been lab-confirmed.

Has a new pandemic begun?

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the current situation has not yet reached pandemic levels, but given the severity of the infection, international cooperation is crucial. DRC Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba stated that there is currently no effective vaccine or specific treatment for the strain that has emerged, and its mortality rate could reach 50 percent.

What is Ebola disease?

Ebola is a highly dangerous and deadly disease caused by viruses belonging to the Orthoebolavirus family. Six different strains have been identified, but three of these strains have caused major outbreaks, causing severe infection in humans. The virus is typically transmitted from animals to humans. Experts believe fruit bats are a natural transmission route. Infection can spread rapidly through animal blood, body fluids, or direct contact with an infected person. This is why healthcare workers are at high risk of contracting the virus while treating patients in hospitals. Even direct contact with an infected person during funerals can be a risk.

What are its symptoms?

According to the World Health Organization, the initial symptoms of Ebola mimic those of a common viral fever, making it difficult to diagnose. Within two to 21 days of infection, a sudden onset of high fever, extreme fatigue, body aches, headache, and sore throat can occur. Patients then develop vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, skin rashes, and kidney and liver problems. In many cases, patients also exhibit mental confusion, irritability, and aggressive behavior. Although the general public believes that Ebola always causes bleeding, experts say that bleeding does not occur in every patient and may appear in the later stages of the disease.

Furthermore, Ebola is difficult to diagnose, as its initial symptoms are very similar to those of many other infectious diseases, such as malaria, typhoid, meningitis, and common viral fevers. This is why the disease often goes undetected in its early stages. According to doctors, if proper diagnosis and diagnosis are not made in time, the infection can rapidly become serious.

When did its outbreak appear?

Ebola has a terrifying history. The first major outbreak occurred in 1976, when two consecutive large infections were recorded in Sudan and Congo. The virus then spread rapidly in Uganda in 2000-01. However, the most devastating outbreak occurred in West Africa between 2013 and 2016. During that period, more than 28,000 cases were reported in countries like Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, and over 11,000 people died. This is considered the deadliest Ebola outbreak to date. The infection later spread to the US and Europe, where some cases were found in travelers returning from Africa and health workers. Subsequently, large-scale outbreaks occurred in the DRC and Uganda between 2018 and 2020, and new cases were recently reported in Uganda in 2025.

What is its treatment?

Researchers say that treating Ebola remains a major challenge. According to medical experts at Imperial College London, currently available treatments only affect the Zaire strain. There is neither an approved vaccine nor an effective antiviral drug for the current Bundibugyo strain. Therefore, treatment primarily relies on maintaining water and electrolyte balance, maintaining stable oxygen levels, and managing the patient's condition.