By Zoila Palma: The World Health Organization (WHO) says the current Ebola outbreak has resulted in 220 suspected deaths, with health officials struggling to contain the spread of the disease.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that delays in detecting cases have left responders “playing catch-up” as the epidemic continues to expand.
“We are urgently scaling up operations, but at the moment the epidemic is outpacing us,” Tedros said, urging countries bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to take immediate action.
He noted that increased surveillance efforts in the DRC have identified more than 900 suspected cases so far.
The latest outbreak is centered in the DRC’s northeastern Ituri province but has spread into neighboring provinces and crossed borders into Uganda.
Last week, the WHO declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola a public health emergency of international concern.
No vaccine or treatment currently exists for this strain, which spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe bleeding, organ failure and death.
Uganda also reported two additional confirmed Ebola cases on Monday, bringing its total to seven. According to the Ministry of Health, the new cases involve two Ugandan health workers employed at a private medical facility in the capital, Kampala.
The outbreak response has also been complicated by unrest and attacks on medical facilities in eastern DRC.
On Sunday evening, angry young men stormed Mongbwalu General Hospital, where Ebola patients were being treated, forcing medical staff to evacuate patients amid gunfire. Hospital medical director Richard Lokudu said the attackers were demanding the release of two relatives’ bodies, though it was not immediately clear if anyone was injured during the incident.
Violence linked to Ebola control measures has intensified in recent days.
The post International News: WHO warns Ebola outbreak ‘Outpacing’ response as suspected death toll reaches 220 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The World Health Organization (WHO) says the current Ebola outbreak has resulted in 220 suspected deaths, with health officials struggling to contain the spread of the disease. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that delays in detecting cases have left responders “playing catch-up” as the epidemic continues to expand. “We are urgently
The post International News: WHO warns Ebola outbreak ‘Outpacing’ response as suspected death toll reaches 220 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
