The World Health Organization (WHO)has declared the outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a global health emergency after cases spread beyond the original outbreak area and reached both countries’ capitals.
WHO made the declaration after health officials confirmed infections in Kinshasa and Kampala. The outbreak was first detected in Ituri Province in north-eastern Congo. Health authorities said 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths linked to the virus had been recorded. Only eight cases have so far been confirmed through laboratory testing.
The agency said the number of infections could be higher than current figures suggest. The agency said eight out of 13 samples collected from different areas tested positive for Ebola.
“There are significant uncertainties to the true number of infected persons and geographic spread associated with this event at the present time.” WHO said
The agency also said the outbreak could be spreading more widely than health officials have detected so far. It described the situation as a “public health emergency of international concern.”
Meanwhile,Health authorities in both countries are continuing surveillance, testing and response efforts as they try to contain the spread of the virus.
Ebola disease is a rare but severe illness in Humans , often fatal and caused by viruses that belong to the Orthoebolavirus genus – WHO.
