The June 5 edition of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) included an assessment of risk to the US population from the current Ebola outbreak centered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The report’s summary is as follows:
What is already known about this topic?
An outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), a type of Ebola disease, is currently occurring, centered in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
What is added by this report?
CDC assessed the risk posed by this ongoing outbreak to the U.S. population during the next 3 months as low.
What are the implications for public health practice?
Ensuring sufficient public health resources to control the outbreak in DRC will be necessary for maintaining a low risk to the U.S. population. If cases arise in the United States, there is public health capacity to contain and control an outbreak, and CDC guidance for U.S. clinicians and public health practitioners can help prevent the potential spread.