SOURCE: BBC
The World Health Organization (WHO) is giving an update after it declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a public health emergency of international concern – watch live above
There have been more than 390 suspected cases and at least 100 reported deaths, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
The WHO previously said the outbreak did not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency, but warned it could be “much larger” than what’s been detected so far
The strain of Ebola is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no approved drugs or vaccines
In a speech, the WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is also expected to address a hantavirus outbreak onboard a cruise ship – here’s the latest13:24
Victor Atallah Lajam, president of the World Health Assembly, is speaking about the health challenges facing the world and possible solutions.
He says global health is not measured in documents, but in lives, and urges attendees to make this assembly a “historic moment” for humanity.
Delegates are now discussing the agenda for the session.
After this, we expect an update on Ebola and hantavirus from WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
While we wait for Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to speak, here’s a comment from the director general of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, who has just spoken to BBC News.
Jean Kaseya says his biggest worry is the increasing number of cases of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
“Now we have at least 395 suspected cases, if I combine the two countries,” Kaseya says. The vast majority of these are in DR Congo as only two cases have been reported so far in Uganda.
“We have more than 100 people already passed on, and we don’t have a vaccine, we don’t have medicine available to support.”
“This is my biggest worry because we need to see how to stop the transmission and we are working with the government of DRC and the government of Uganda to stop the transmission of this outbreak.”
He says he believes that with all the mechanisms being put in place, this can happen “very quickly”.
What is causing this outbreak? Ebola is a disease caused by a virus – it is rare, but severe and often deadly. There are three species of Ebola virus that cause outbreaks, and this one is known as Bundibugyo
How is Ebola transmitted? It spreads between people through infected bodily fluids, such as blood and vomit
How deadly is it? About 30% of people have died in previous Bundibugyo outbreaks
What is the incubation time? Symptoms appear between two and 21 days after being infected
What are the symptoms? The initial symptoms appear suddenly and are flu-like, such as a fever, headache and tiredness. As the disease progresses, vomiting and diarrhoea develop and the body’s organs do not work as well. Some patients may develop internal and external bleeding
Where does Ebola come from? Outbreaks start when somebody catches Ebola from infected animals, such as fruit bats
Is there a vaccine? There are vaccines for the Zaire species of Ebola, but not for Bundibugyo
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is expected to speak soon – you can watch live at the top of this page.:16
World Health Organization (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has given his opening remarks at the World Health Assembly in Switzerland this morning, ahead of his speech this afternoon.
Tedros outlined how the WHO has changed over the years to “meet the changing needs” of its member states. He also highlighted WHO’s new science division and the “groundbreaking” HIV drug lenacapavir, which was prequalified by the organisation in 2025.
He thanked Spanish officials for their help in dealing with the hantavirus outbreak, after Spain allowed the ship to sail to the Canary Islands and co-ordinate the repatriation of those on board.
Tedros also told the assembly he would provide more details on both hantavirus and the Ebola outbreak in his afternoon address.
As a reminder, we’re expecting to hear from Tedros at about 13:30 BST (12:30 GMT). We’ll be providing live updates here and you can watch live at the top of this page.
Hantavirus-hit cruise ship and crew arrive in Rotterdam
Earlier this month, a ship carrying about 150 passengers and crew from 23 countries was forced to quarantine after an outbreak of hantavirus on board.
Three people – a Dutch couple and a German woman – died after travelling on the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, with two of them confirmed to have had the virus.
The number of infections among cruise passengers has now reached 11, after Canadian authorities confirmed another case on Sunday.
Earlier, WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak”, but added that “given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks”.
After more than a month at sea, the Hondius reached its final destination in Rotterdam on Monday, with only the ship’s crew remaining on board.
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What’s the latest on the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda?published at 11:46
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has been declared a “public health emergency of international concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO).
DR Congo’s eastern Ituri province has seen more than 390 suspected cases and at least 100 reported deaths, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Jean Kaseya told the BBC.
The virus has spread beyond the country with two confirmed cases, including one death, reported in neighbouring Uganda – both of those infected had travelled from DR Congo.
Two other neighbours – Rwanda and South Sudan – are also now on “high alert”.
The current strain of Ebola is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, the health agency says, for which there are no approved drugs or vaccines.
The WHO warns the outbreak could be “much larger” than what’s currently being detected and reported, with significant risk of local and regional spread.
It does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency, WHO says.
Health officials are urging those in affected areas to maintain strict hygiene to prevent its spread. Speaking to the BBC, Africa’s top health official Jean Kaseya said special care had to be taken around funerals of those infected.
We’ll be hearing soon from World Health Organization (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, after the organisation declared the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo an international emergency.
So far, the DR Congo health ministry has reported around 350 suspected cases and 91 deaths.
This comes as at least six Americans have been exposed to the virus in the outbreak, according to sources who spoke to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.
We’re also expecting Tedros to mention the hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship MV Hondius earlier.
We’ll bring you all the key updates on these outbreaks as soon as we get them. You will also be able to watch live at the top of this page. Stay with us.
