The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had previously assessed the risk to Americans as low but has now issued travel advisories. Americans heading to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda are encouraged to steer clear of anyone displaying symptoms.
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo — The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has resulted in at least 131 fatalities and over 500 suspected cases, according to a statement from the Congolese health ministry on Tuesday. This comes amid revelations about the government’s belated reaction to the crisis.
Public Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba provided an update, stating: “We have recorded 513 suspected cases and 131 deaths in the regions affected by the outbreak.”
He further clarified, “These deaths are currently classified as suspected, and investigations are ongoing to ascertain which are directly connected to the Ebola virus.”
On Sunday, the World Health Organization (WHO) categorized this Ebola outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.
The current outbreak, which was first identified on Friday, is attributed to the Bundibugyo virus, a rare strain of Ebola for which there are no approved treatments or vaccines, according to health authorities.
Although more than 20 Ebola outbreaks have taken place in Congo and Uganda, this is only the third time that the Bundibugyo virus has been detected.
Cases have now been confirmed in Bunia, North Kivu’s rebel-held capital of Goma, Mongbwalu, Butembo and Nyakunde.
The World Health Organization’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said in Geneva on Tuesday that he is “deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic” and the U.N. health agency will convene its emergency committee Tuesday to advise on recommendations.
The American doctor is among the cases in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province in eastern Congo, said Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe, medical director of the country’s National Institute of Bio-Medical Research.
Dr. Peter Stafford had been treating patients at a hospital there when he developed symptoms, Serge, the organization he works for, said in a statement.
Three other employees of Serge were working at the same hospital — including Stafford’s wife — but are not showing symptoms.
Seven Americans, including the one who tested positive, are being transported to Germany for monitoring, Dr. Satish Pillai of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a call with reporters. Pillai said the American developed symptoms over the weekend.
CDC officials did not immediately respond to follow-up questions about the American doctor’s condition.
The CDC, which has said the risk to Americans was low, issued travel advisories urging Americans traveling in Congo and d to avoid people with symptoms like fever, muscle pain and rash.
The CDC said that, for the next 30 days, the U.S. would ban entry of all foreign nationals who had visited Congo, Uganda and South Sudan over the past three weeks, and take measures to identify individuals with Ebola symptoms at ports of entry.
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