WHO warns of undetected Ebola outbreak in Congo

Nine hundred and six suspected cases of Ebola and 223 suspected deaths have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with investigations currently underway, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus is ongoing in the DRC, with cases now also being reported in neighbouring Uganda.

There have been 125 confirmed cases of Ebola in the DRC, including 17 confirmed deaths across the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.

Uganda has also registered seven confirmed cases, three of which were imported from the DRC and one death.

However, the WHO noted that no community transmission has been reported there so far.

Later on Friday, Uganda’s health ministry updated its figures, reporting a total of nine confirmed cases.

The Ebola outbreak in the eastern region of the DRC likely began two months ago, the WHO stated in early May. The organization has declared the outbreak of this specific strain for which there is currently no vaccine a public health emergency of international concern.