The World Health Organization declared this Saturday (16) an outbreak of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern.
The WHO said the outbreak does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency.
in a new Ebola outbreak in the province of Ituri, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country’s Ministry of Health reported on Friday night (15).
Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba said in a statement that the samples tested confirmed eight cases of Ebola in the Rwampara, Mongwalu and Bunia health zones.
To date, 246 suspected cases of the virus have been registered, the ministry reported. The government said it activated its public health emergency operations center, strengthened epidemiological and laboratory surveillance and ordered the rapid mobilization of teams.
The one in Africa said on Friday that there was a confirmed outbreak of Ebola in Ituri province and that the death toll was 65 at that time.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement it was convening an urgent meeting with Congo, Uganda, South Sudan and global partners to bolster cross-border surveillance, preparedness and response efforts.
It said the deaths and suspected cases were mainly recorded in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, while four deaths were recorded among the laboratory-confirmed cases. Suspected cases were also recorded in Bunia, the provincial capital.
