Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Efforts to curb the Democratic Republic of Congo’s worst Ebola outbreak are stumbling, medical charity MSF warned Thursday, blaming the role of the security forces in the response and their “toxic” relations with local communities. Seven months into the outbreak, “the Ebola response is failing to …
Read More »Ebola treatment centre in eastern DR Congo reopens after attack
Beni, DR Congo | AFP | An Ebola treatment centre in eastern DR Congo has reopened after an attack by gunmen last Wednesday forced its closure, the health ministry announced. The centre, located in Butembo in the troubled province of North Kivu, reopened on Saturday, the health ministry said in a bulletin. Repairs were also …
Read More »Uganda health workers respond swiftly after suspected Ebola death
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ugandan health workers have acted with swiftness to respond to a suspected Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case that occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the body repatriated to Tororo in Uganda by relatives for burial. Last night, the Ministry of Health (MOH) …
Read More »DR Congo’s disputed presidential election
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in as the Democratic Republic of Congo’s new president Thursday after an election fraught with delays and doubts. Here is a recap. – Two-year delay – After being postponed three times, the elections go ahead on December 30, 2018 to chose …
Read More »DR Congo Ebola death toll tops 400
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The death toll from the latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo has passed the 400 mark in the east and northeast, health authorities said Tuesday. “Since the start of the epidemic, the total number of cases is 658 — 609 confirmed and 49 probable. …
Read More »WHO orders mandatory ebola screening at Entebbe Airport
Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The World Health Organization-WHO has ordered for mandatory Ebola screening of all passengers entering the country through Entebbe International Airport. Initially, airport authorities were screening only passengers returning on flights from Democratic Republic of Congo-DRC. However, according to Simon Ebachu, the head of …
Read More »Suspected Ebola case in Sweden: officials
Stockholm, Sweden | AFP | A patient in Sweden has been admitted to hospital with a suspected case of Ebola, a highly infectious and potentially fatal disease, health care officials said Friday. “Test results will probably be received sometime this evening. At this stage it is just a suspicion, other …
Read More »Ebola, violence-weary DRC region proudly stages unofficial vote
Beni, DR Congo | AFP | Thousands of voters, weary from frequent armed attacks and an ongoing Ebola outbreak, proudly cast ballots in a northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo — even though they will count for nothing. Citing security and health fears, the country’s national electoral commission …
Read More »WHO chief warns DRC unrest threatening gains in Ebola fight
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The World Health Organization chief warned Friday that growing unrest in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was disrupting efforts to rein in an Ebola outbreak, threatening gains made in fighting the deadly virus. The security situation in the Ebola-hit Beni and Butembo areas has deteriorated …
Read More »Patients flee after Ebola holding centre attacked in DRC
Beni, DR Congo | AFP | Patients being monitored as possible Ebola patients fled a camp in eastern DR Congo on Thursday after it was attacked by demonstrators protesting further delays to the country’s election, the health ministry said. Around 20 patients fled the centre during the incident, at a …
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