Kinshasa, May 23 (V7N) – The World Health Organization has raised the risk level of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the African country of Democratic Republic of the Congo from “high” to “very high”, the agency’s Director-General announced at a press conference on Friday (May 22).
According to a report by the BBC published on Saturday (May 23), the WHO said the latest assessment indicates that the risk of infection is now “very high” at the national level, “high” at the regional level and “low” globally.
The health agency also confirmed that the virus has already spread to neighboring Uganda.
According to WHO data, 82 people have so far been confirmed infected with Ebola. Among them, seven people have died. In addition, around 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths have been reported.
The WHO Director-General said the current outbreak is being caused by the “Bundibugyo” strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment available.
Health authorities are continuing surveillance, isolation and emergency response measures to contain the outbreak and prevent further regional spread.
END/SMA/AJ
