Lead

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its public health risk assessment for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from 'high' to 'very high' at the national level, as the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain continues to spread. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the revised assessment on Friday, stating that the risk remains 'high' at the regional level and 'low' at the global level.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, BBC World, and France 24 English all confirm that the WHO upgraded the risk assessment. The upgrade was announced by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who described the situation in the DRC as 'deeply worrisome'.

There is broad agreement among the sources on the key figures: 82 confirmed cases, seven confirmed deaths, almost 750 suspected cases, and 177 suspected deaths. However, France 24, in an earlier report, cited 51 confirmed cases in Congo and two confirmed cases in Uganda, with almost 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths, noting that the numbers were expected to increase.

The WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday, a step confirmed by multiple sources. France 24 noted that this was the first time a WHO chief had taken that step without first consulting experts, due to the urgency of the situation.

All sources highlight the lack of an approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain. BBC World and ABC Australia mention that an experimental vaccine is in development at Oxford, and France 24 reports that Congo was expecting shipments from the US and Britain of an experimental vaccine for different types of Ebola.

Key Claims

  • The WHO upgraded the public health risk of the Ebola outbreak in the DRC from 'high' to 'very high' at the national level, with 'high' risk at the regional level and 'low' at the global level.
  • As of the latest reports, there are 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths, with almost 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths.
  • The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has no approved vaccine or treatment, and the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
  • An experimental vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain is being developed at Oxford, though it may take six to nine months before any dose is ready for testing.
  • The situation in neighbouring Uganda is 'stable', with two confirmed cases of the Bundibugyo strain and one death, both linked to travel from the DRC.
  • In Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, the provincial government has banned public gatherings and restricted funeral practices to curb the spread of the virus.
  • Rwanda has implemented travel restrictions and quarantine measures in response to the outbreak, as reported by ABC Australia.

Perspectives

World Health Organization

The WHO has raised its risk assessment to 'very high' at the national level, citing the scale and speed of the outbreak. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasised the need to build trust and combat misinformation, which he described as "another epidemic by itself". The organisation has deployed additional personnel to the epicentre in Ituri province.

Provincial Government of Ituri

The provincial government in Ituri, the hardest-hit region, has banned public gatherings and restricted funerals, moves that have sparked tensions with local communities, including clashes with police over the body of a footballer whose family denied he died from the virus.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

The IFRC said volunteers are going door-to-door to combat misinformation about Ebola and explain how people can protect themselves. Community reactions remain mixed, with some residents taking the threat seriously while others remain sceptical.