Three Red Cross volunteers died after likely contracting the Ebola virus during a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in March, according to the organization. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) stated, “At the time of the intervention, the community was not aware of the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, and the outbreak had not yet been identified. They are among the first known victims of the outbreak.”
The volunteers were identified as Alikana Udumusi Augustin, Sezabo Katanabo, and Ajiko Chandiru Viviane. Viviane passed away on May 5, Katanabo on May 15, and Augustin on May 16. Health workers utilizing protective gear gathered to disinfect the isolation area for Ebola patients at the General Referral Hospital of Mongbwalu, Congo.
These volunteers reportedly contracted the virus while “carrying out dead body management activities” on March 27 during a mission that was initially unrelated to Ebola, according to the IFRC. They were affiliated with Congo’s Red Cross society, serving in the Mongbwalu branch of the Djugu territory in Ituri province, which is the center of the outbreak.
The organization expressed its sorrow by extending condolences: “We extend our heartfelt condolences to their families, loved ones, fellow volunteers and colleagues. These volunteers lost their lives while serving their communities with courage and humanity.” A health worker has been monitoring visitors arriving at the Rodolphe Mérieux Laboratory, National Biomedical Research Institute, in Goma, Congo, on May 19.
Spread of Virus to Uganda
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak, which originated in Congo and has spread to Uganda, a public health emergency of international concern on May 17. As of Thursday, there were 746 suspected cases of the virus and 176 deaths among suspected cases reported in Congo, according to WHO.
There have been at least 88 confirmed cases, with 10 deaths among those cases, including one in Uganda. Among the confirmed cases is an American surgeon who contracted the virus while working in Congo and was taken to Germany for treatment. WHO reported, as of Thursday, two cases in Uganda, but Uganda’s Ministry of Health announced on Sunday that cases had risen to five.
The three new cases in Uganda involve a Ugandan driver, a Ugandan health worker, and a Congolese woman with mild symptoms who entered Uganda. All are receiving treatment.
Concerns Over the Outbreak
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus labeled the outbreak in Congo as “deeply worrisome.” “These numbers are changing as surveillance efforts and laboratory testing is improving, but violence and insecurity are impeding the response,” he said.
Since the outbreak, aid and personnel have been dispatched to Congo from regional and international partners, including WHO, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Doctors Without Borders, and the U.S. State Department, which mobilized $23 million in foreign assistance.
The outbreak is driven by a strain of Ebola known as Bundibugyo, leading to hemorrhagic fever, with no approved vaccines or treatments. The CDC on May 18 issued an order disallowing entry to foreign nationals who have been in Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of entering the U.S. However, U.S. citizens and permanent residents must proceed to either Washington-Dulles International Airport or Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport for public health screening.
As of now, no suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola from the current outbreak have been reported in the U.S., according to the CDC.