Ebola case confirmed in rebel-held Congo area far from outbreak's epicentre

Key Points:

• An Ebola case has been confirmed in South Kivu province, eastern DRC, far from the outbreak's epicentre in Ituri province, indicating the virus's spread; the patient, a 28-year-old who traveled from Kisangani, has died and been safely buried.
• The outbreak, involving the Bundibugyo strain with no available vaccine, has resulted in 61 confirmed cases and 160 suspected deaths among 670 suspected cases, with two cases confirmed in Uganda, which is suspending flights to DRC as a precaution.
• Clashes erupted in Ituri's Rwampara town when a family disputed an Ebola death, leading to protesters attacking a hospital and setting fire to medical tents, highlighting ongoing community mistrust and violence that complicate outbreak containment efforts.
• Aid workers report shortages of basic supplies amid foreign aid cuts, though Britain and the U.S. have pledged funding and support for clinics; Uganda criticized U.S. travel restrictions and clinic plans, asserting its capacity to manage Ebola cases.
• The WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, and the African Union postponed the India-Africa Forum Summit due to the health crisis; efforts continue to develop a vaccine, with CEPI aiming for a safe, effective vaccine within 100 days.