New transmission from animals likely caused Congo-Uganda Ebola outbreak, study says
The study did not identify the animal species responsible for the initial transmission.
The ongoing Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo concerns a previously unseen variant of the rare Bundibugyo species of the virus, indicating it stemmed from a new transmission from animals to humans rather than from variants linked to earlier outbreaks, a new study said.
Researchers from Congo, Uganda, Belgium and other countries analysed the genetic makeup of virus samples collected from 22 patients in Congo and Uganda.
They found that the outbreak involves a previously unseen variant of the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus, which was genetically distinct from strains identified during outbreaks in 2007 and 2012.
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The findings, published Monday, suggest the outbreak began with a fresh spillover of the virus from an infected animal to humans before spreading through human-to-human transmission.
Ebola viruses are known to periodically spill over from infected animals to humans, potentially triggering outbreaks.
The genetic analysis also confirmed that Ebola cases detected in Uganda were linked to the outbreak in Congo.
The researchers said broader access to diagnostic testing and viral genome sequencing could help detect future Ebola outbreaks earlier and improve efforts to contain them.
The study's findings are particularly significant because Bundibugyo Ebola is relatively rare and differs from other Ebola virus species that have caused larger outbreaks.
There is currently no approved vaccine or treatment specifically for Bundibugyo Ebola, although candidate vaccines and treatments are under development.
The outbreak was declared on 15 May and has so far resulted in more than 2,000 deaths and 4,381 confirmed cases, according to the latest government data.
