WHO Africa head warns against underestimating risk of Ebola spread
The WHO Africa director has cautioned against underestimating the Ebola outbreak risk, particularly with the Bundibugyo strain that lacks an approved vaccine. He emphasized that even a single case could lead to wider transmission beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The outbreak has received less global attention compared to other recent health crises, such as the hantavirus outbreak.
- ▪The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola currently has no approved vaccine.
- ▪A single case of Ebola could potentially spread beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
- ▪The outbreak has garnered less global attention compared to the recent hantavirus outbreak affecting cruise ship passengers.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
WHO Africa head warns against underestimating risk of Ebola spreadSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxA man walks past the treatment center set up by the NGO Alima in the courtyard of Bunia General Referral Hospital following a resurgence of Ebola involving the Bundibugyo strain, a rarer variant of the virus with no approved vaccine currently available, in Bunia, Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo May 21, 2026. REUTERS/StringerPublished May 22, 2026, 07:55 PMUpdated May 22, 2026, 07:55 PMGENEVA, May 22 - It would be a mistake to underestimate the risk posed by the Ebola outbreak, the WHO regional director for Africa told Reuters on Friday, warning that just one case could spread the virus beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.“It would be…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.