Ebola epidemic: Ten African countries at risk

The Africa CDC has issued a warning indicating that up to ten additional African countries are now at risk due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak. The countries identified at risk include Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia. This warning comes as the situation escalates in the region, particularly affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. In Uganda, health authorities confirmed three new cases of Ebola, which are linked to the outbreak in the neighbouring DRC. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Uganda to five. The World Health Organization has raised the risk level associated with the outbreak to the highest level for the DRC, highlighting the severity of the situation. The confirmed cases in Uganda are reported to be alive, and health officials are actively working to contain the spread of the virus. In the DRC, the Red Cross reported that three volunteers have died after contracting the virus in March. Additionally, there have been incidents of violence related to the outbreak; in Ituri’s Mongbwalu, residents attacked and set fire to part of an Ebola treatment centre, resulting in 18 suspected cases fleeing. Another treatment centre in Rwampara was also set ablaze, indicating rising tensions and challenges in managing the outbreak effectively.