Ebola Outbreak in DRC, Uganda

The World Health Organization>>> has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo>>> a public health emergency of international concern. There are 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo>>>, with 125 confirmed cases and 17 confirmed deaths. Uganda>>> has also reported seven confirmed cases, with three imported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo>>> and one death, though no community transmission has been reported there. The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is no vaccine, has a high fatality rate of 30% to 50%. The outbreak went undetected for two months, spreading in a densely populated area, making containment difficult. Aid, including medical supplies from the European Union>>>, is being rushed to the affected regions, where health workers face equipment shortages, distrust from the population, and attacks from armed groups. Anaïs Legrand>>> of the World Health Organization>>> emphasized the importance of early care to reduce fatality rates and noted that testing capacity is being improved.