WHO Calls Emergency Meeting As Ebola Death Toll Rises To 131 In Central Africa

The is preparing to hold an emergency committee meeting following a sharp rise in Ebola related deaths across Central Africa. Officials confirmed that the outbreak has already claimed at least 131 lives, while hundreds of suspected infections are being investigated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda.

According to health authorities, the outbreak is linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a variant that currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Medical experts have warned that the virus has spread rapidly through several densely populated communities, increasing fears of wider cross border transmission.

The WHO has already declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, describing the situation as deeply alarming due to the speed of infections and the challenges faced by healthcare workers on the ground. Several infected patients have reportedly appeared in urban areas including Goma and Kampala, adding to concerns about regional spread.

Health officials in Congo stated that many early cases may have gone undetected because symptoms were initially mistaken for other illnesses. Authorities also believe unsafe burial practices and limited healthcare access helped accelerate transmission in affected communities.

The outbreak has become even more difficult to control due to ongoing conflict and humanitarian instability in eastern Congo. Medical teams are struggling with contact tracing, laboratory testing, and movement restrictions in some high risk areas.

WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed serious concern over the growing scale of the epidemic and confirmed that emergency experts will meet to discuss additional containment measures and international support efforts.

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