The World Health Organisation (WHO) has provided the latest update on the Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain, with cases confirmed in both the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
Health officials warn that the outbreak is expanding into urban areas, with growing concern over cross-border transmission.
WHO says the Ebola outbreak in the DRC continues to expand, with confirmed cases now recorded in major cities including Bunia and Goma.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, says Uganda has also confirmed infections linked to cross-border movement from the DRC.
“So far, 51 cases have been confirmed in the DRC, in the northern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, including in the cities of Bunia and Goma, although we know the scale of the epidemic in DRC is much larger. Uganda has also informed WHO of two confirmed cases in the capital Kampala, including one death among two individuals who travelled from DRC to Uganda. An American national who was working in DRC has also been confirmed positive and been transferred to Germany.”
WHO warns that the outbreak could worsen significantly in the coming weeks as authorities investigate hundreds of suspected infections and deaths.
Tedros says delayed detection and transmission in healthcare settings are adding to the concern.
“There are several factors that warrant serious concern about the potential for further spread and further deaths. First, beyond the confirmed cases, there are almost 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths. We expect those numbers to keep increasing given the amount of time the virus was circulating before the outbreak was detected. Second, the epidemic has expanded with cases reported in several urban areas. Third, deaths have been reported among health workers, indicating healthcare-associated transmission.”
WHO says response teams have already been deployed to support national authorities in containing the outbreak.
The organisation has also released emergency funding as countries intensify surveillance, contact tracing and treatment efforts.
–Channel Africa–
