Ebola fears spread as suspected cases detected in Italy amid Covid-style measures
A health alert has been issued after two suspected Ebola cases were detected in Italy in the past 24 hours, as nations neighbouring the Democratic Republic of Congo establish Covid-style spread-prevention measures.
A 31-year-old man from Bulgarograsso and a 33-year-old woman from Lurate Caccivio have reported symptoms of the virus, including high fever, nausea, and vomiting after returning from Uganda.
The pair had spent three months in the East African country among those providing humanitarian aid and have since been transferred to Sacco Hospital in Milan.
Doctors have warned the woman may need to be admitted to intensive care, while other members of their families who were travelling with them are being monitored for signs of symptoms in the Lombardy region of northern Italy.
The concerning spread of the disease to Europe comes as nations neighbouring the Democratic Republic of Congo have implemented Covid-style measures amid fears of the deadly disease spilling over borders.
Health authorities announced suspected cases have jumped to near 1,000 as the outbreak continues to rip through the east of the country.
The Congolese Ministry of Communication revealed the number of deaths has reached 220 – with most cases at the epicentre in the Ituri province.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) first raised the alarm about Ebola cases in the DRC earlier this month, caused by a rare strain with no known treatments or vaccines.
The African Centre for Disease Control has urged ten neighbouring countries, including Uganda and Zambia, to up border checks in an effort to contain the spread.
People are being screened for Ebola at key crossings, as five cases have been reported in Uganda.
Health authorities and aid agencies have also launched symptom awareness campaigns, so people can report worrying symptoms quickly.
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Lombardy’s regional welfare minister, Guido Bertolaso, confirmed emergency procedures had been activated in northern Italy.
“Seven Italian citizens, members of two different families, returned from Uganda, from an area not far from the border with the DRC and Rwanda,” he told a press conference.
“They are co-operators, volunteers who went to those territories to help people who certainly live in much more difficult and problematic conditions than ours.
"Back in Italy, 24 hours ago, two of these citizens showed symptoms of fever during the night, in one case very high with nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and also mild neurological symptoms.”
Mr Bertolaso stressed there is still no certainty the pair are carrying Ebola, despite having travelled back from the region of the outbreak.
A form of malaria could also be a likely diagnosis, with results of diagnostic tests expected on Tuesday.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of WHO, said the fast-growing outbreak was outpacing response efforts and a delay in detecting cases meant responders were now “playing catch-up".
He warned the epidemic is likely to get worse before it gets better and maintained countries bordering the DRC remain the most at risk.
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