Geneva: The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed grave concern over the speed and extent of the Ebola outbreak, as the number of cases continues to rise. To date, at least 500 suspected cases and 130 suspected deaths have been reported since the start of this new outbreak.
According to Thai News Agency, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus revealed at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, that in addition to the figures mentioned above, there were confirmed cases and deaths from laboratory tests in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, among individuals who had traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Furthermore, 30 more confirmed cases were found in Ituri Province in northeastern Congo. These figures remain subject to change as officials are working to expand screening areas, trace close contacts, and expedite laboratory testing.
The World Health Organization's Emergency Committee, comprised of international experts, has convened an urgent meeting to assess the situation and prepare recommendations to address this crisis. Several concerning factors could lead to a wider outbreak, including the discovery of infections in major urban areas, as well as in the conflict-ridden province of Ituri, and reports of infections among healthcare workers, reflecting a growing trend of transmission within medical facilities and exacerbating the crisis.