Officials Warn Ebola Could Spread Like COVID as Cases Surpass 10K: ‘We Want All Countries to Know That They Are Not Safe’

Key Points:

• The Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed over 10,000 cases and nearly 5,000 deaths from an Ebola outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, which currently has no vaccine and has spread to Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, and France.
• Health officials, including Dr. Jean Kaseya of Africa CDC, warn the outbreak is unprecedented in geographic scope and could spread globally like COVID-19 if countries do not take prompt and appropriate measures.
• The World Health Organization reports 50 to 80 new confirmed cases daily and has declared the outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern" since May 17, with evidence suggesting the virus began spreading as early as February or March.
• Ebola spreads through contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated items, is not airborne, and symptoms appear within 21 days, initially causing fever and fatigue before progressing to severe bleeding and other critical symptoms.
• Officials urge increased preparedness and treatment capabilities worldwide to prevent the disease from becoming a global hotspot, emphasizing lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.