Resilience and Residuals Beyond Containment – The Hidden Burden of Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Survivorship Sixteen Years On A Cross-Sectional Observation

The authors describe a cross-sectional observational study of 40 laboratory-confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease survivors and 23 unexposed community controls to identify long-term effects of illness. Survivors reported persistent neurological and musculoskeletal symptoms, including headaches (35%); visual disturbances (22.5%); fatigue, joint pain, and neurological issues (15%); and musculoskeletal weakness (5%). Unlike survivors of Ebolavirus, survivors of Bundibugyo virus did not report hearing loss or gastrointestinal disturbances. Laboratory results showed elevated basophils and urinary ketones in survivors. Respiratory rates were significantly lower in survivors than controls but remained in the normal range and there were no significant differences between survivors and controls in other cardiovascular and metabolic indices. 57.5% of survivors reported social stigma.