The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern following an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, with experts warning of significant under-detection.
Key points
- Official reports confirm 51 cases in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces, though the WHO estimates the actual scale is much larger with nearly 600 suspected cases and 139 deaths.
- The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus strain, which has complicated diagnostic efforts due to initial testing calibration issues.
- The United States has issued a level 4 travel advisory for the Ituri province, citing limited capacity to provide emergency services.
- Researchers from the Imperial College of London and the WHO suggest the true number of cases could be two to five times higher than current official figures.
Why it matters
The declaration of a public health emergency highlights the critical risk of regional spread and the challenges of managing a lethal virus in conflict-prone areas.
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