International News: Ebola case count nears 600 as health officials struggle to contain outbreak
By Zoila Palma: The World Health Organization (WHO) says the outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), a form of Ebola, continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, with increasing case numbers and cross-border transmission. According to WHO, as of June 6, the DRC had reported 515 confirmed cases and […] The post International News: Ebola case count nears 600 as health officials struggle to contain outbreak appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Black News 
By Zoila Palma: The World Health Organization (WHO) says the outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), a form of Ebola, continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, with increasing case numbers and cross-border transmission.
According to WHO, as of June 6, the DRC had reported 515 confirmed cases and 91 deaths, while Uganda reported 19 confirmed cases, including two deaths, along with one probable fatal case.
WHO noted that the outbreak in Uganda remains linked to transmission originating in the DRC, with both imported infections and secondary transmission among contacts and healthcare workers.
WHO reported that the outbreak remains concentrated in Ituri Province in the DRC, which accounts for 94 percent of confirmed cases. The organization said 16 health and care workers have been infected and more than 5,000 contacts are currently under follow-up across affected provinces. WHO also warned that increasing security incidents affecting health facilities are hampering surveillance and response efforts, raising concerns about undetected transmission.
In Uganda, WHO said all reported cases have been linked either to travelers from the DRC or to secondary infections connected to them, with no documented community transmission to date. The agency noted that approximately 70 percent of Uganda’s cases involve Congolese nationals who traveled to seek medical care. WHO also worked with authorities in the United Arab Emirates after an infected traveler passed through the country, concluding that the risk of transmission there remains low and that no secondary cases have been detected.
To strengthen the response, WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention launched a joint continental preparedness and response plan on June 5, seeking US$518 million to support African countries.
WHO assessed the risk as “very high” in the DRC and “high” in Uganda due to ongoing transmission and cross-border movement.
However, the organization advised against any restrictions on travel or trade with either country and emphasized the need for enhanced surveillance, cross-border collaboration, and continued preparedness efforts to prevent further spread of the disease.
The post International News: Ebola case count nears 600 as health officials struggle to contain outbreak appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
