Global health officials sound warning as Ebola outbreak worsens in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, has sounded the alarm on the deteriorating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda, cautioning that the number of infections is likely to escalate in the coming weeks.

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This warning was conveyed by Tedros through an update he posted on his X platform on Tuesday, where he also shared the latest figures on the outbreak.

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According to Tedros, the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 101 confirmed Ebola Bundibugyo virus cases, with 10 confirmed deaths, although he emphasized that these numbers only scratch the surface of the actual outbreak.

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The true extent of the outbreak is significantly more severe, with over 900 suspected cases and 220 suspected deaths already documented, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

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Meanwhile, in Uganda, two additional confirmed cases have been reported among healthcare workers, bringing the country's total to seven confirmed infections, including one death.

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The WHO chief assured that health authorities and partners are ramping up their efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent the further spread of the deadly virus.

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Tedros stated that "We are continuing to scale up the response with our partners, and we expect more cases to be identified in the coming days and weeks," underscoring the need for vigilance and proactive measures.

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He emphasized the critical role of rapid case detection and contact tracing in mitigating the outbreak, stressing that timely intervention is essential to providing adequate care and bringing the outbreak under control.

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Tedros reiterated this point, saying "The sooner we can trace people with infections and identify their contacts, the sooner we can provide the care they need and bring this outbreak under control," driving home the importance of swift action.