Need to know
The World Health Organisation has issued a fresh warning about the “rapidly evolving” Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, as the death toll continues to rise and case numbers surge
Need to know: ebola outbreak – who scrambles response as death toll soars in africa
- The World Health Organisation has launched emergency response measures as a deadly Ebola outbreak spreads rapidly across Africa.
- WHO officials warned the “rapidly evolving virus” has created a “deeply alarming” situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The outbreak has already claimed 223 lives in DRC alone, with 906 suspected cases recorded.
- An additional 55 suspected deaths have been reported since May 21 across both countries. Cross-border transmission is fuelling fears the crisis could spiral out of control.
- Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières’ deputy director Dr Alan Gonzales revealed this outbreak has recorded more cases faster than any previous Ebola crisis. “Never before has an Ebola outbreak recorded so many cases so soon after its declaration,” he warned.
- “The reality today is that nobody knows the true scale and severity of this outbreak,” Gonzales added. Hundreds of samples remain untested as new suspected cases emerge daily.
- WHO is deploying rapid response teams and medical supplies to combat the spread. Treatment centres are being established while surveillance efforts are ramped up across the affected regions.
- The deadly virus spreads through contact with bodily fluids including blood, vomit and saliva.
- READ THE FULL STORY: New Ebola warning issued as ‘rapidly evolving virus’ spreads across the globe
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