World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 101 Ebola cases and 10 deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as health authorities battle a rapidly spreading outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
Gatekeepers News reports that WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said more than 900 suspected infections have now been identified in the conflict-hit Central African country, raising fears that the outbreak could worsen in the coming weeks.
The Congolese government officially declared the outbreak on May 15 after cases were detected in the eastern part of the country, particularly in Ituri province. Health officials say the Bundibugyo strain currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, making containment efforts more difficult.
The WHO has since raised the national risk level in Congo to “very high”, warning that delayed detection, insecurity and attacks on medical facilities could fuel further spread of the virus.
Reports also indicate that several Ebola patients fled treatment centres after attacks by suspected militants and angry residents, complicating efforts by health workers to trace contacts and contain transmission.
Neighbouring Uganda has also recorded confirmed Ebola cases linked to cross-border movement from Congo, although the WHO maintains that the overall global risk remains low for now.
