The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that there are now 600 suspected cases of Ebola and 139 suspected deaths, with numbers expected to rise further due to delays in virus detection.
Fifty-one cases have been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo—where the outbreak originated—and two in neighboring Uganda, according to WHO chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
During a briefing in Geneva, Dr. Ghebreyesus noted that the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, likely began a couple of months ago.
This past Sunday, the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern but emphasized that it does not constitute a pandemic.
Ghebreyesus explained that while the organization assesses the risk level of the epidemic as high at national and regional levels, it remains low at the global level.
The confirmed cases are primarily located in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces of the country, with Uganda confirming two cases linked to travel from DR Congo.
The first known case was traced to a nurse who died on April 24 in Ituri's provincial capital, Bunia. Numerous cases are reported from two gold-mining towns, Mongwalu and nearby regions.
Eastern DR Congo is also facing challenges due to long-standing conflict, complicating the response to this Ebola outbreak.
