WHO raises Ebola public health risk to very high' in DR Congo

The provincial government in Ituri, where the outbreak is centered, banned public gatherings to reduce transmission. WHO upgraded the Ebola public health risk in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from high to very high at the national level, high at the regional level, and low at the global level. Confirmed cases reached 82 with seven confirmed deaths, while suspected cases neared 750 with 177 suspected deaths. WHO deployed additional personnel to support affected communities in Ituri. The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or treatment, and the outbreak was declared an emergency of international concern. Ebola causes fever, body aches, vomiting, and diarrhoea and spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. Red Cross volunteers conduct door-to-door outreach to counter misinformation and guide people to protective actions and care.

"Provincial gov't in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, has banned public gatherings to stop the spread of the virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has upgraded the public health risk of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from high to very high as the deadly outbreak continues to spread. WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced on Friday that they were revising their risk assessment for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, to very high at the national level, high at the regional level, and low at global level."

"So far, 82 cases have been confirmed, with seven confirmed deaths. But we know the epidemic in the DRC is much larger. There are now almost 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths, he wrote. He added that additional WHO personnel had been deployed to the epicentre of the DRC's outbreak in Ituri province, to support affected communities. The new strain of the virus currently has no approved vaccine or treatment, and the WHO declared it an emergency of international concern on Sunday."

"Ebola is an often-fatal virus that causes fever, body aches, vomiting and diarrhoea. It spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Friday that volunteers are going door-to-door in the area at the centre of the outbreak, to combat misinformation about Ebola and explain how people can protect themselves and seek care. Community reactions remain mixed."

"For some people the outbreak is very real and they are taking information on how to protect themselves, Gabriela Arenas, the Regional Operations Coordinator for the IFRC Africa Region, told reporters via video link from Nairobi. For others, there's still suspicion and misinformation claiming that Ebola is fabricated."

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