Brazil and Italy Rule Out Ebola in Suspected Cases as Outbreak Grows
The World Health Organization’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, visited the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the weekend, as more than 1,100 suspected cases and over 350 suspected deaths have been reported. No cases have been confirmed outside of Congo and neighboring Uganda, and Ebola tests came back negative for two suspected patients in Brazil and one in Italy. The International Rescue Committee warned Monday that the outbreak is likely significantly larger than official figures suggest due to delayed detection and poor contact tracing. Tedros emphasized that early medical intervention can save lives, even without vaccines or specific therapeutics, after visiting a new treatment facility in Bunia. The WHO announced that five people have recovered from Ebola in Congo, including four nurses discharged from a hospital. Health officials face persistent challenges including early detection, isolation, contact tracing, and safe burials. Doctors Without Borders stated the outbreak is outpacing the global response, with so many cases recorded so soon after declaration. Last month, WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
What’s reported
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus traveled to DRC’s Ituri province over the weekend and was expected to meet the country’s president on Monday.
More than 1,100 suspected cases and more than 350 suspected deaths have been reported in what is now the third-largest Ebola outbreak since the virus was discovered.
No confirmed cases exist outside DRC and Uganda.
Brazil ruled out Ebola in two suspected patients: a man in São Paulo who tested positive for meningitis and a traveler from Uganda in Rio de Janeiro who had malaria and tested negative via saliva and urine tests.
Italy ruled out Ebola in a suspected case in Sardinia after a patient who returned from Congo tested negative.
The International Rescue Committee warned the outbreak is likely larger than official figures, with only 20% of contacts being traced.
WHO announced five confirmed recoveries in DRC, including four nurses and a laboratory worker.
Dr. Jean Kaseya of Africa CDC reported 263 confirmed cases and 43 deaths; WHO reported 291 confirmed cases and 43 deaths.
The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus.
WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern last month.
Conflicting accounts
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 263 confirmed cases and 43 deaths, while the World Health Organization reported 291 confirmed cases but the same number of deaths (43). The source article does not explain the discrepancy.
Key figures
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization
Dr. Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The International Rescue Committee, global humanitarian organization
Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), humanitarian medical charity
Brazil’s Ministry of Health
Italy’s Health Ministry
Sources: NBC News
