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WHO issues WARNING after DEADLY ebola outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is orchestrating the careful evacuation of at least six Americans who have been exposed to a dangerous Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This action follows the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of a global health emergency.
On Tuesday, the Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced that an emergency committee meeting would be convened to address the alarming “scale and speed” of the Ebola outbreak affecting both the Congo and Uganda.
According to data shared by Tedros, over the past weeks, the Democratic Republic of Congo has witnessed more than 500 suspected Ebola cases, with 33 being confirmed. Uganda, on the other hand, has reported two confirmed cases. The outbreak has tragically resulted in a total of 131 deaths.
Expressing his deep concern, Tedros released a statement on Tuesday highlighting the urgent need to address the epidemic’s rapid expansion.
Later that day, Tedros was set to meet with the WHO’s Emergency Committee to further deliberate on the crisis and explore solutions to curb the outbreak.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, speaks during an event. (Lian Yi/Xinhua via Getty Images)
There are several factors that have made the WHO concerned about the potential for further spread, such as cases in urban areas, including Kampala, Uganda, and Goma in the DRC, as well as the conflict-affected province of Ituri.
The WHO has approved $3.9 million in emergency funding to support national authorities as they respond to the outbreak.
The WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency on Sunday, and the U.S. issued an urgent travel warning for the DRC shortly after on Monday.
A health worker sprays disinfectant on a colleague after working at an Ebola treatment center in Beni, eastern Congo, on Sept. 9, 2018. (Al-hadji Kudra Maliro/AP)
Officials said the outbreak was caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus, a rarer variant for which existing vaccines may be less effective.
The State Department warns that Ebola is a “rare, severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fever illness.”
The virus can spread through direct contact with infected individuals, bodily fluids, infected corpses and objects contaminated with the virus.
“The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Ituri province,” the advisory noted. “Do not travel to this area for any reason.”
Pictured is the MV Hondius, the cruise ship tied to a hantavirus outbreak after a stop in Argentina that left three passengers dead. (Europa Press Canarias via Getty Images)
The development comes as global health officials continue monitoring a rare hantavirus outbreak tied to the MV Hondius cruise ship, which left multiple passengers and crew members sick, and caused three deaths.
As of May 13, the WHO said 11 hantavirus cases had been identified in connection with the cruise outbreak, including eight confirmed cases, two probable cases and one inconclusive case.