The World Health Organization has raised the risk of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola spreading across the Democratic Republic of Congo to very high. The outbreak, which has been declared an emergency of international concern, is spreading rapidly in a high-trafficked part of the country. While the risk remains high at the regional level, it is currently considered low worldwide.
The outbreak is centered in Ituri province, where the provincial government has banned public gatherings to stop the spread of the virus. The situation has deteriorated quickly, with suspected cases rising to almost 750 and suspected deaths reaching 177, up from 246 cases and 65 deaths reported a week earlier.
WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation as especially challenging and deeply worrisome. Efforts to contain the virus are complicated by the fact that no approved vaccine or treatment exists for this rare strain. Health workers are currently scrambling to track contacts of those infected while facing obstacles such as aid cuts and community distrust.