2017 Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Northern Democratic Republic of Congo. (3rd April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nsio, Justus; Kapetshi, Jimmy; Makiala, Sheila; Raymond, Frederic; Tshapenda, Gaston; Boucher, Nancy; Corbeil, Jacques; Okitandjate, Antoine; Mbuyi, Gisele; Kiyele, Musa; Mondonge, Vital; Kikoo, Marie Jose; Van Herp, Michel; Barboza, Philippe; Petrucci, Roberta; Benedetti, Guido; Formenty, Pierre; Muyembe Muzinga, Baby; Ilunga Kalenga, Oly; Ahuka, Steve; Fausther-Bovendo, Hugues; Ilunga, Benoit Kebela; Kobinger, Gary P; Muyembe, Jean-Jacques T
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 221:Number 5(2020)
• Page Start: 701
• Page End: 706
• Publication Date: 2019-04-03
• Subjects: Ebola virus -- outbreak -- virus sequence; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz107
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Background: In 2017, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recorded its eighth Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak, approximately 3 years after the previous outbreak. Methods: Suspect cases of EVD were identified on the basis of clinical and epidemiological information. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis or serological testing was used to confirm Ebola virus infection in suspected cases. The causative virus was later sequenced from a RT-PCR–positive individual and assessed using phylogenetic analysis. Results: Three probable and 5 laboratory-confirmed cases of EVD were recorded between 27 March and 1 July 2017 in the DRC. Fifty percent of cases died from the infection. EVD cases were detected in 4 separate areas, resulting in > 270 contacts monitored. The complete genome of the causative agent, a variant from the Zaire ebolavirus species, denoted Ebola virus Muyembe, was obtained using next-generation sequencing. This variant is genetically closest, with 98.73% homology, to the Ebola virus Mayinga variant isolated from the first DRC outbreaks in 1976–1977. Conclusion: A single spillover event into the human population is responsible for this DRC outbreak. Human-to-human transmission resulted in limited dissemination of the causative agent, a novel Ebola virus variant closely related to the initial Mayinga variant isolated in 1976–1977 in the DRC. Abstract : In 2017, a small outbreak of Ebola virus disease occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), killing half of 8 infected individuals. This outbreak was caused by a variant closely related to the Ebola virus Mayinga variant isolated from the first DRC outbreaks in 1976.