WHO Warns of Unclear Ebola Outbreak Scale in DRC

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning regarding the unclear scale of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), specifically in the Ituri Province, which borders Uganda and South Sudan. As of Saturday, there are 88 confirmed cases of the highly contagious hemorrhagic fever, with at least 336 suspected cases reported.

The strain of the virus involved was first identified in 2007 and has a high fatality rate ranging from 60% to 90%. Samuel Roger Kamba, the health minister of DRC, confirmed the latest outbreak, while Trish Newport from Doctors Without Borders (MSF) noted the significant risk of the outbreak spreading across the region due to high mobility linked to mining and commercial activities.

Health officials have advised nations to activate disaster management mechanisms and implement screening at main international roads. Ebola is believed to originate from bats and spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids, causing severe bleeding and organ failure.