Ebola Death Toll Rises To 220, Officials Say 11 Countries Now At Risk (Live Updates)

Key Points:

• The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned that 11 African countries are now at risk amid an ongoing Ebola outbreak, with WHO officials emphasizing that no single country can manage the outbreak alone and calling for international cooperation.
• The outbreak has sickened 246 people and caused 65 deaths, with cases spreading beyond Congo to Uganda, where five cases have been reported, including healthcare workers and a driver linked to the initial victim.
• The current Ebola outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment, and care is limited to supportive measures such as managing symptoms and maintaining vital functions.
• The Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced 17 Ebola outbreaks in the past 50 years, highlighting the recurring nature of the disease in the region.
• The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board warned that despite lessons from COVID-19, the world remains unprepared for future pandemics due to insufficient progress in health research, prevention, and global cooperation.