Global health authorities are closely monitoring two emerging viral threats: Ebola virus disease and hantavirus infection. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), an Ebola outbreak is spreading rapidly, while new hantavirus cases have been linked to a recent outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship m/v Hondius.
Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Ebola epidemic in the DRC continues to escalate. Local health authorities report serious challenges in containing the outbreak due to weak health infrastructure, limited medical supplies, armed conflict, and community mistrust toward public health interventions.
According to the latest official figures:
- 1,011 suspected cases have been reported;
- 105 cases have been confirmed in laboratories;
- 233 deaths have occurred, resulting in an estimated case fatality rate of around 23%.
Seven confirmed cases have also been identified in neighboring Uganda. The first two involved travelers returning from the DRC; subsequent cases included local transmission — including among healthcare workers. One patient died.
What Is the Ebola Virus?
According to Greece’s National Public Health Organization (EODY), the Ebola virus belongs to the Orthoebolavirus family and causes a severe, often fatal viral illness. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days.
Early symptoms include sudden fever, intense weakness, muscle and joint pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and — in severe cases — hemorrhagic manifestations.
How Is It Transmitted?
Transmission occurs through direct contact with blood, secretions, or other bodily fluids of infected people or animals, as well as with contaminated objects and surfaces. The virus is not airborne and does not spread through casual contact or water.
EODY emphasizes that no specific treatment exists for all Ebola virus species. A vaccine is available only for the Zaire ebolavirus strain. No effective vaccine currently exists for the Bundibugyo strain.
While the risk to travelers remains low when preventive measures are followed, the global pandemic risk is assessed as low.
Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship m/v Hondius
Concern is growing over a rising number of hantavirus cases tied to a recent outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise vessel m/v Hondius. Confirmed cases have now reached 13.
EODY explains that hantaviruses belong to a family of viruses primarily carried by rodents. Human infection typically occurs through inhalation of aerosolized particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva — especially in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.
Symptoms, Transmission, and Prevention
Early hantavirus symptoms can resemble influenza or even COVID-19 — including fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, dizziness, chills, and gastrointestinal issues — making early diagnosis challenging.
As no human-to-human transmission has been documented, prevention focuses on avoiding exposure to rodent habitats and ensuring proper sanitation in living and working environments. There is no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus infections.