WHO Africa says risk of Ebola spread should not be underestimated

It would be a mistake to underestimate the risk posed by the Ebola outbreak, the WHO regional director for Africa said on Friday (22), warning that just one case could spread the virus beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

At least 177 deaths are considered linked to the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, with almost 750 suspected cases, said the director-general of the WHO (World Health Organization) this Friday (22). Two cases have also been confirmed in neighboring Uganda.

"It would be a big mistake to underestimate it, especially with a virus with this strain, Bundibugyo, (for which) we don't have the vaccine," Mohamed Yakub Janabi said in an interview at WHO headquarters in Geneva.

Continue lendo

28/05/2026

Chinese company says it has a device capable of "translating" pet sounds

Chinese technology company Hangzhou Meng Xiaoyi Technology claims to have developed a device capable of "translating"...

27/05/2026

Anahí and Poncho: project reveals reason for reunion between the two

Singer Anahí, 43, and actor Alfonso Herrera, 42, caught the attention of fans when they reunited in January after year...

27/05/2026

With Bernard decisive, Atlético-MG qualifies in the Copa Sudamericana

Atlético-MG is in the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana. This Wednesday (27), at Arena MRV, Bernard scored the goal...

"So I would really encourage everyone, let's help each other, we can control this," he stated.

He added that the Ebola outbreak in Congo has received relatively little global attention compared to this month's hantavirus outbreak, which affected cruise ship passengers from 23 countries, including major powers.

"It only takes one contact case to put us all at risk, so my hope and prayer is that we can give (Ebola) the attention it deserves," he continued.

Top Cifras

Toque agora.

1 Cristo Voltará Harpa Cristã

2 Lugar mais alto Intimidade e Adoração

3 You Give No Time Same Bloods Cocktail

4 Ainda te amo Banda Calypso

Ebola is an often fatal virus that causes fever, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea. It spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people, contaminated materials, or people who have died from the disease.

Understand how the Ebola outbreak began
The first known suspected case was that of a healthcare professional, whose symptoms began on April 24, according to the WHO (World Health Organization). The person later died at a medical center in Bunia, capital of Ituri province.

On May 5, the WHO received an alert about an "unknown disease" with high mortality in the province, the agency said. Following an investigation by a "rapid response team" on May 13, the outbreak was confirmed as Bundibugyo virus on May 15.

Jeremy Konyndyk, former lead for Covid relief and disaster relief at USAID, said several "generations of transmission" must have gone undetected before the outbreak was confirmed, which he called a "huge problem."

On Sunday (17), the UN health body declared the epidemic a "public health emergency of international importance" and stated that the high positivity rate and the increase in the number of cases and deaths indicate "a potentially much larger outbreak".

WHO's Tedros Adhanon said this is the first time a director-general has declared such an emergency before convening the committee later on Tuesday (19).

Anne Ancia, WHO representative in the Democratic Republic of Congo, confirmed on Tuesday that the outbreak had also spread to North Kivu province, which directly borders Ituri, but added that there was still "significant uncertainty" about the actual number of infections.

Source: CNN