The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 131 deaths in connection with the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with 153 cases suspected.
Due to the dire situation surrounding the Bundibugyo strain, which currently has no vaccine or cure, the WHO has voiced concern over the scale and speed of the outbreak in the country, especially considering the cases’ significant concentration in difficult-to-access areas.
“The deaths we are reporting are all the deaths we have identified in the community, without necessarily saying that they are all linked to Ebola,” said Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba.
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Ebola virus outbreak declared a public health emergency of international concern
On Sunday, the WHO determined that the Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo strain was a public health emergency of international concern, pursuant to paragraph two of Article 12 of the International Health Regulations (2005).
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the decision to declare the second-highest level of alert was not taken “lightly.”
During Tuesday’s World Health Assembly in Geneva, Ghebreyesus said he was “deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic.”
A report from Agence France-Presse said the epicenter of the outbreak is in Ituri province on the border with Uganda and South Sudan.
Ghebreyesus said there are currently 30 confirmed cases of Ebola in Ituri province.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned that there is an elevated risk of the disease spreading to eastern African countries that border the DRC.
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US to start screening air travelers as American tests positive
On Monday, the United States decided to strengthen its precautions in order to assess all travelers from virus-hit areas.
The government said it will be screening passengers and temporarily suspending visa services.
This comes as Satish Pillai, the Ebola response incident manager for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said one American in the DRC has tested positive for the virus after exposure related “to their work” there.
“The person developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive late Sunday,” Pillai said.
He added that the US is also trying to evacuate six people for health monitoring.
Aside from conducting screening at airports, the government is also enforcing entry restrictions on non-US passport holders who have traveled to Uganda, the DRC, or South Sudan within the past 21 days.
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James Mario Ajero 
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