The World Health Organization is warning of a 'catastrophic collision' between disease and conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. A new Ebola outbreak, declared in mid-May, has already resulted in 10 confirmed and 223 suspected deaths from more than 1,000 cases.
The WHO's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that clashes in Ituri province are outpacing the response, driving mass displacement, and severing containment corridors. The Bundibugyo strain, for which no vaccine or treatment exists, is behind the country’s 17th recorded outbreak.
Neighboring Uganda has recorded one confirmed death and six additional cases. In response, it has shut its border with the DRC and imposed a 21-day quarantine on all arrivals from the country. The United States plans to open a quarantine center in Kenya for Americans needing to leave the region quickly.
Health workers in Ituri province report dire conditions, with no ambulances and motorbikes used to transport the sick. The WHO says the case fatality rate is under 25%, but experts believe the virus has been circulating undetected for some time. Tedros has urged all warring parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire to contain the outbreak.