General Studies Paper 3 — Science and Technology, Disaster Management | Source: The Indian Express

1. What happened

The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern — only the third such declaration for Ebola in history.

• Location: Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo — a mining area bordering Uganda and South Sudan
• Strain: Bundibugyo virus — one of six known Ebola species. No approved vaccine exists for this strain
• Scale: 246 suspected cases, 80 deaths as of May 15, 2026
• One imported case confirmed in Kampala, Uganda — cross-border spread confirmed

2. What is spillover — and why Ebola is not a pandemic threat

Why Ebola cannot spread like COVID-19:

• Ebola is not airborne — spreads only through direct contact with body fluids of a sick person
• People are most infectious only when they are very sick — too ill to travel widely
• No asymptomatic spread — unlike COVID-19, you cannot unknowingly spread Ebola

3. Ebola vs pandemic-capable viruses
4. India’s preparedness — key systems

• Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (2004): Network covering all states and union territories — monitors outbreaks in real time through the Integrated Health Information Platform (launched 2021)
• National One Health Mission (2021–26): Integrates human health, animal health, and environmental health — the only real way to stop zoonotic diseases at their source. Has 45 sentinel surveillance sites across India
• National Institute of Virology, Pune: India’s only Biosafety Level 4 laboratory — capable of handling deadly pathogens like Ebola and Nipah with no treatment or vaccine
• Airport and Port Health Organisation: Screens passengers at 31 major airports and 12 seaports during outbreaks
• Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 (amended 2020): Empowers governments to take emergency health measures during epidemics

5. Value box — key terms and bodies

• Public Health Emergency of International Concern: World Health Organization’s highest alert level under International Health Regulations 2005. Triggers coordinated global response. Past examples: Ebola (2014, 2018), COVID-19 (2020), Mpox (2022, 2024).
• Zoonotic disease: Disease that jumps from animals to humans. Over 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. Examples: Ebola, Nipah, COVID-19, Kyasanur Forest Disease.
• Basic Reproduction Number (R₀): How many people one sick person infects on average. R₀ above 2 = fast spread. Ebola: 1–2. COVID-19 original strain: 2–3.
• One Health approach: Treats human health, animal health, and environment as one connected system. Essential for preventing spillover at the source before it reaches humans.
• Panic-neglect cycle: Funding and attention surge during outbreaks, then disappear. Health infrastructure built in a crisis is not maintained. The biggest challenge in pandemic preparedness globally.

Q.3. Consider the following statements regarding the Ebola outbreak and pandemic preparedness:

1. The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, currently causing the 2026 outbreak, has an approved vaccine available — the same one used against the Zaire strain.
2. A Public Health Emergency of International Concern is declared by the World Health Organization under the International Health Regulations of 2005.
3. India’s National Institute of Virology in Pune is a Biosafety Level 4 facility capable of handling high-containment pathogens like Ebola and Nipah.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct answer

(b) 2 and 3 only