The World Health Organization reports 600 suspected cases of Ebola and 139 suspected deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, warning numbers will likely rise due to the time needed to detect the virus.
Fifty-one cases have been confirmed in DRC, mainly in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, with two cases confirmed in Uganda's capital, Kampala, both linked to travelers from DRC. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo species, a rare strain with no approved vaccine or specific treatments.
WHO chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak likely began “a couple of months ago” and declared a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday, though the agency assessed the global risk as low. The first known case was a nurse who died on April 24 in Bunia, DRC.
Eastern DRC faces additional challenges from years of conflict, complicating the response to this 17th Ebola outbreak.