The Director of the National Center for Epidemics and Infectious Diseases Control, Dr. Adel Al-Belbisi, clarified that the currently spreading Ebola virus is highly dangerous, with a mortality rate reaching up to 50% among those infected, coupled with the absence of a specific treatment or preventive vaccines. In contrast, the mortality rate for COVID-19 does not exceed 2%.
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Al-Belbisi emphasized that although Ebola is far more lethal than COVID-19, its transmission is described as slow. He explained that it is not an airborne virus; rather, it requires direct contact with an infected patient's blood or bodily fluids. This makes its rate of spread significantly slower compared to COVID-19, which is transmitted through respiratory droplets, coughing, or sneezing.
Speaking to Ammon, Al-Belbisi stated that the virus is not considered contagious during its incubation period, which ranges from 2 to 21 days. It only becomes contagious after the onset of various symptoms.
He added that in the event the virus reaches Jordan, it will be managed by administering supportive care, which is the standard global approach to dealing with this disease due to the lack of specific antiviral treatments or preventive vaccines. Medical personnel provide symptomatic treatment for associated conditions, such as high fever and fluid loss.
Furthermore, he pointed to the decision to quarantine Jordanian arrivals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda for 21 days—the maximum possible incubation period for the virus. He confirmed that the quarantine is carried out either institutionally in hospitals or at home for those capable of doing so.
He explained that in cases of home isolation, the Center regularly monitors the individual's status to ensure they do not breach their commitment to remain at home and avoid mixing with others. This is achieved through daily phone calls to check on their health status and conducting routine home visits to perform any necessary medical examinations.
It is worth noting that the World Health Organization (WHO) previously declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the step as aimed at "acting immediately to prevent further deaths and mobilizing an effective international response."
At the same time, the WHO indicated that the risk of a global outbreak remains low due to the virus's inability to spread rapidly, aligning with Al-Belbisi's statements. Despite an acceleration in its local transmission, it is not classified as a risk indicator for a global pandemic.
To date, the organization has recorded 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths, noting that numbers are likely to rise as investigations continue—especially given the expansion of the outbreak into urban areas, the recording of infections among healthcare workers, and the large-scale displacement in conflict zones in eastern DRC.
