Is it safe to travel to East Africa amid Ebola outbreak? Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania tighten border checks

Like other forms of Ebola, Bundibugyo virus disease can cause fever, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. It spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people or contaminated materials, rather than through the air like Covid-19 or flu.

According to the World Health Organisation, previous Bundibugyo outbreaks have generally recorded lower fatality rates than the better-known Zaire strain, although the disease is still considered highly dangerous and capable of spreading rapidly in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure.

How does Bundibugyo differ from other Ebola strains?

The key difference is that there are currently no approved vaccines or targeted treatments specifically available for the Bundibugyo strain. Most recent Ebola responses, including vaccines deployed during outbreaks in West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, were developed for the Zaire strain of Ebola virus, which has historically caused the deadliest outbreaks.

Health authorities say those are not formally approved for Bundibugyo virus disease, although the strain is considered somewhat less lethal than Zaire Ebola on average, with historical fatality rates estimated at roughly 25 per cent to 50 per cent, compared with up to 90 per cent in some past Zaire outbreaks. But experts are warning that mortality rates vary widely depending on how quickly cases are detected, how effectively contacts are traced and the quality of local healthcare responses.

How does Bundibugyo Ebola spread?

Bundibugyo Ebola spreads in the same way as other forms of Ebola – through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials. Crucially, it’s not considered an airborne virus in the way Covid-19, flu or measles are. People generally become infectious only once symptoms begin, which means casual contact, such as briefly passing someone in an airport or sitting near someone without symptoms, is considered much lower risk than direct physical contact with a sick person.

The virus can also spread through contact with infected animals, particularly bats and primates, which is why health authorities advise travellers not to handle bushmeat or wildlife in outbreak areas. Hospitals and funerals have historically been among the highest-risk environments during Ebola outbreaks, particularly where protective equipment, sanitation or infection control procedures are limited. Family members caring for sick relatives are also at a higher risk.

Symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 21 days after exposure and typically begin with fever, fatigue, muscle pain and headaches before progressing to vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, bleeding and organ failure.