The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is assisting in response efforts amid the outbreak
Credit: AP Photo/Constant Same Bagalwa
NEED TO KNOW
- At least 87 deaths have been attributed to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda
- On Sunday, May 17, the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) declared the disease an international public health emergency
- “There are significant uncertainties to the true number of infected persons and geographic spread associated with this event at the present time,” said the W.H.O.
As the number of deaths attributed to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda increases, the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) has declared the disease a public health emergency of international concern.
On Sunday, May 17, the W.H.O. published a report stating that there have been 80 suspected deaths and 246 suspected cases reported in the Ituri Province of Congo. Two laboratory-confirmed cases, including one death, have also been reported in Kampala.
The organization added that there have been "unusual clusters of community deaths" in several zones, while the deaths of four healthcare workers have raised concerns about "healthcare-associated transmission, gaps in infection prevention and control measures."
According to the W.H.O., precautions are being taken to bring the event caused by the Bundibugyo virus under control.
Credit: AP Photo/Al-hadji Kudra Maliro
“There are significant uncertainties to the true number of infected persons and geographic spread associated with this event at the present time,” said the W.H.O., adding that the outbreak doesn't currently meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency.
Early symptoms of the disease include fever, aches in the muscles and joints, severe headache, fatigue and sore throat. There are no drugs or vaccines approved for the current strain of Ebola, the BBC reported.
The death toll amid the highly contagious outbreak has reached at least 87, per the Associated Press.
According to the W.H.O., neighboring countries that share land borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo “are considered at high risk for further spread due to population mobility, trade and travel linkages, and ongoing epidemiological uncertainty.”
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Credit: Frederick Murphy/CDC via AP
International parties have been urged to work together to effectively monitor the outbreak and help prevent the disease from spreading further.
“The event requires international coordination and cooperation to understand the extent of the outbreak, to coordinate surveillance, prevention and response efforts, to scale up and strengthen operations and ensure the ability to implement control measures,” said the W.H.O.
The United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was informed about the Ebola outbreak by the Ugandan government on Friday, May 15, and is supporting the response efforts overseas, according to Reuters.
"CDC has extensive experience and expertise in responding to Ebola outbreaks, and we are working closely with the DRC Ministry of Health through our country office to support our response efforts," CDC Acting Director Jay Bhattacharya told the outlet.
The CDC did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further comment.
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