Ebola Spreading Rapidly; WHO Urges Immediate Containment in DRC Neighbors

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated today that neighboring countries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are facing a major threat from the Ebola virus and should take immediate action to curb the spread of this deadly virus. Tedros said, 'Countries bordering the DRC are at particularly high risk and should take immediate action.' He added that he would travel to the DRC, the epicenter of the current outbreak, tomorrow. Speaking via video link from Geneva, he noted that the outbreak is 'spreading rapidly.' Ebola can be transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids and can cause severe hemorrhaging and organ failure. He described the current outbreak as 'particularly tricky,' noting that failure to detect the outbreak in time has forced them to play catch-up. Furthermore, the eastern provinces where the outbreak was first detected in mid-May are highly volatile, with escalating armed conflict and strong distrust of external official institutions. Finally, he pointed out that there are currently 'no approved vaccines or treatments' for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus causing this outbreak. WHO records show 10 confirmed deaths and 220 suspected deaths in the DRC since mid-May, with a total of about 900 suspected cases since the outbreak was announced on May 15.