Bond.az - The World Health Organization raised its risk assessment for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo to 'very high' at the national level on Friday, citing rapid spread of a rare virus strain for which no approved treatment or vaccine exists.
The agency said there are now almost 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths in the DRC, with 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths. Two cases, including one death, were confirmed in neighboring Uganda after individuals traveled from the DRC. An American national who was working in the DRC has been confirmed positive and transferred to Germany for care.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which has only occurred twice before in Uganda in 2007 and the DRC in 2012. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency convened partner organizations this week to review the pipeline of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.
The outbreak is occurring in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, where intensified fighting in recent months has displaced more than 100,000 people. Around 4 million people need urgent humanitarian assistance across both provinces, 2 million are displaced, and 10 million face acute hunger.
A security incident occurred Thursday at a hospital in Ituri, where tents and medical supplies were set on fire.
WHO has deployed 22 international staff to the field and released $3.9 million from the Contingency Fund for Emergencies. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher allocated $60 million to the response. The agency said it will publish a multi-agency Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan in the coming days, aligned with national plans of both the DRC and Uganda.
