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Ebola

All articles tagged with #ebola

Ituri Ebola Crisis Demands Rapid Deployment of Staff and Resources
world17 hours ago

Ituri Ebola Crisis Demands Rapid Deployment of Staff and Resources

The Ituri province in DR Congo faces a fast-spreading Ebola outbreak with more than 900 suspected cases and 223 deaths; the military governor says the response is under-resourced and must include qualified personnel, secure treatment centres, and adequate food, warning that delays could lead to catastrophe as WHO raises the alarm and Africa CDC mobilizes funds and cross-border coordination continues.

DRC Ebola Outbreak Pushes Bundibugyo-Specific Vaccine and Therapy Efforts
health20 hours ago

DRC Ebola Outbreak Pushes Bundibugyo-Specific Vaccine and Therapy Efforts

An ongoing Bundibugyo-strain Ebola outbreak in the DRC—the third-largest on record—has no approved strain-specific vaccine or treatment. The existing Zaire-targeted Ervebo vaccine may offer limited cross-protection, but data are scarce and safety in this outbreak is uncertain. New Bundibugyo-focused vaccines (including a vesicular stomatitis virus–based candidate) are in development, though clinical-grade material and human trials likely won’t be ready for six to nine months. Therapies such as remdesivir and the MBP134 monoclonal antibody cocktail show promise, but delivery and safety in the field pose challenges. Beyond vaccines and drugs, rapid diagnosis, isolation, contact tracing, and strong outbreak response remain essential tools for control.

WHO warns Ebola outbreak in DRC outpacing response as attacks hamper containment
health1 day ago

WHO warns Ebola outbreak in DRC outpacing response as attacks hamper containment

The World Health Organization warns that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is outpacing response efforts, with about 220 suspected deaths, as attacks on health facilities in Ituri disrupt containment and burial practices fuel transmission; Uganda reports cases, and there is no approved vaccine for Bundibugro ebolavirus, prompting scaled-up but hampered operations in insecure areas.

Angry crowds clash at DR Congo Ebola site as police disperse with shots
africa1 day ago

Angry crowds clash at DR Congo Ebola site as police disperse with shots

Police fired shots in the air to disperse angry crowds at an Ebola treatment centre in Mongwalu, DR Congo, where relatives demanded the bodies of loved ones who died from Ebola; unrest followed prior attacks on isolation tents. Red Cross volunteers are carrying out safe burials under police protection as the outbreak triggers regional coordination and funding efforts from Africa CDC and international partners, including Uganda, South Sudan and South Africa.

Ebola crisis expands as Congo toll rises and Uganda reports new cases
world1 day ago

Ebola crisis expands as Congo toll rises and Uganda reports new cases

The Congo outbreak has about 220 suspected Ebola deaths, with Uganda reporting two new infections bringing its total to seven, and Congo’s suspected cases surpassing 900 mainly in Ituri. The WHO has declared the outbreak a public-health emergency of international concern, while a vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain has no approved treatment yet—though Oxford researchers are pursuing one that could enter trials in a couple of months. Response is hampered by fear, attacks on treatment centers, and distrust of authorities, with two Ugandan health workers and three Red Cross volunteers among those affected.

MSF warns Ebola response strained as DR Congo outbreak intensifies
health2 days ago

MSF warns Ebola response strained as DR Congo outbreak intensifies

MSF urges that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is stretching relief efforts due to resource shortages, with no approved vaccines or drugs yet; WHO has declared a public health emergency, and transport disruptions and conflict hinder response as over 200 deaths and around 850 suspected cases are reported, underscoring the need for faster case confirmation and improved discharge planning.

health2 days ago

Birx: U.S. ready to confront Ebola outbreak despite leadership vacancies

Dr. Deborah Birx says the United States is well-positioned to respond to Africa’s Ebola outbreak thanks to a deep bench of experts and ongoing interagency efforts, even with vacancies at the CDC, FDA, and surgeon general; she notes that a rapid deployment of assets is underway and that detection delays can skew case trends, while suggesting that past U.S. withdrawals from WHO and aid cuts may not significantly undermine the response.

DR Congo Ebola outbreak passes 900 suspected cases amid attacks on treatment centers
health2 days ago

DR Congo Ebola outbreak passes 900 suspected cases amid attacks on treatment centers

Suspected Ebola cases in eastern DR Congo have reached 904 with 119 suspected deaths, as the WHO notes a very high domestic risk but low global risk. Health facilities face arson attacks, security challenges and severe shortages amid ongoing conflict, displacement, and international aid cuts, complicating containment in Ituri. Authorities are tightening burial protocols to prevent transmission, while the Bundibugyo strain driving this outbreak has no approved vaccine or treatment.