Ebola Outbreak in DRC: Cases Surge to 867, WHO Declares Global Emergency as Uganda Reports Cases
मुख्य बातें
- •The Ebola outbreak in DRC has reached 867 suspected cases and 204 deaths, with a 50% mortality rate for the Bundibugyo strain.
- •WHO upgraded the risk assessment to "very high" and declared a global public health emergency due to rapid spread and cross-border cases in Uganda.
- •DRC and Uganda have implemented strict measures, including flight suspensions, border closures, and halting weekly markets to curb transmission.
- •Vaccine development is delayed, with no doses currently available for clinical trials; production could take six to nine months if prioritized.
- •Funding and resource shortages are crippling response efforts, with Africa CDC warning that front-line workers lack essential supplies.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has intensified, with health officials reporting 867 suspected cases and 204 deaths as of late Saturday. The World Health Organization (WHO) has upgraded its risk assessment in the country to "very high," marking a critical escalation in the crisis. The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, now spans three provinces in the DRC, including the newly affected South Kivu. Neighboring Uganda has also confirmed two cases, including one death, linked to individuals who traveled from the DRC. This marks the first time the Bundibugyo strain has appeared in Uganda, raising concerns about cross-border transmission.
