What to know about the outbreak of a rare kind of Ebola

An Ebola outbreak in Congo has reached over 5,000 confirmed cases, marking it as one of the largest outbreaks of the deadly virus ever recorded. This outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare strain of Ebola with no approved vaccine or treatment. As of Sunday, the Congo's Ministry of Health reported 5,021 cases and 2,378 deaths related to this outbreak.

The outbreak is the worst caused by the Bundibugyo virus and the deadliest Ebola outbreak in Congo's history. The World Health Organization warns that it could potentially surpass the 2014-2016 West African Ebola outbreak, which claimed over 11,000 lives.

Ebola is a rare but highly lethal disease caused by a group of viruses that are believed to originate in animals. Humans can contract the virus through contact with infected animals, and it can then spread between people via direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected or deceased individual. It can also spread through objects contaminated with these fluids.

Unlike airborne diseases like COVID-19, Ebola does not typically spread through the air. Infected individuals do not transmit the virus before exhibiting symptoms, according to the World Health Organization.

Symptoms of Ebola typically emerge between two and 21 days post-infection. Initial signs include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, and sore throat. These are often followed by vomiting and diarrhea. In some cases, patients may experience internal or external bleeding. Ebola can be challenging to differentiate from other infectious diseases without laboratory testing, as many of its early symptoms are similar to those of illnesses such as malaria and typhoid.