The World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be spreading faster than first thought. At least 131 people have died, and more than 513 suspected cases have been reported. One death has also been confirmed in neighbouring Uganda. WHO officials said the virus has spread to other provinces and across borders. There is no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain causing the outbreak. Health workers are sending medicines and protective equipment to affected areas. Governments in the region have tightened border checks and urged people to report symptoms quickly. (PC: BBC)

The World Health Organization has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be spreading faster than first believed. At least 131 people have died, while more than 500 suspected cases have been reported. The outbreak has also reached neighbouring Uganda, where one death has been confirmed. WHO officials said the virus may have spread across borders and into new provinces before being detected in April. Health experts fear the actual number of infections could be much higher. Authorities across the region are tightening border checks and increasing health surveillance to prevent further spread of the deadly virus. (PC: BBC)

At least 100 people have died in an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with over 390 suspected cases reported so far. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak an international public health emergency as fears grow over regional spread.   The outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment. Uganda has also confirmed two cases and one death. US health authorities said six Americans were exposed during the outbreak, though infections have not been confirmed. Several countries, including Rwanda and Nigeria, have tightened screening and surveillance measures. (PC: BBC)

The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo a public health emergency of international concern after the virus spread to neighbouring Uganda. Around 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths have been reported in Ituri province, with confirmed infections also detected in Kinshasa and Goma. WHO warned the outbreak could become much larger due to population movement and regional instability. The current Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccine or treatment. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there are “significant uncertainties” about the true scale of infections. (PC: BBC)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” after rising infections and deaths linked to the rare Bundibugyo virus strain. Health officials reported over 240 suspected cases and around 80 suspected deaths, with confirmed infections spreading from eastern Congo to Uganda’s capital Kampala. WHO warned the outbreak is especially dangerous because no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently exists for this strain. Ongoing conflict, population displacement, and weak healthcare systems in the affected regions are complicating containment efforts and increasing fears of wider regional spread. (PC: AFP)

The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern Ituri province a global health emergency after cases spread into neighbouring Uganda. WHO said around 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths have been reported so far, with eight laboratory-confirmed infections linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus. Health officials warned the true scale of the outbreak may be wider due to population movement, mining activity and cross-border travel. Authorities in DR Congo and Uganda have been urged to strengthen surveillance, isolate infected patients and improve emergency response measures to contain further spread. (PC: BBC)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned countries to stay alert for more hantavirus cases following an outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. The vessel was travelling from Argentina to Cape Verde when several suspected infections were reported.   Health officials are closely monitoring the situation because the Andes strain of hantavirus, unlike most forms of the virus, can spread through close human contact. Hantavirus is usually transmitted through infected wild rodents and can cause severe respiratory illness.   The WHO has asked countries to strengthen surveillance and preparedness measures as concerns grow over the possible spread of infections in the coming weeks.

US health officials are monitoring 18 Americans evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius after possible exposure to the Andes strain of hantavirus. Sixteen passengers were taken to a federal quarantine unit in Omaha, while two others, including one showing mild symptoms, were sent to Atlanta. Officials said the public risk remains “very, very low” as the virus does not spread easily between people. One American passenger tested positive, though asymptomatic. The outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship has already claimed three lives, while health agencies continue monitoring passengers for symptoms during quarantine. (PC: BBC)

More than 100 passengers and crew members fell ill after a norovirus outbreak struck the Caribbean cruise ship Caribbean Princess during a voyage from Florida. According to reports, those infected suffered symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea and stomach cramps. Health experts said cruise ships remain highly vulnerable to norovirus because of crowded spaces and shared facilities. The virus spreads rapidly through contaminated food, water, surfaces and close contact. Authorities said most patients recovered within a few days, but the outbreak has renewed concerns over sanitation and disease control on cruise liners. Officials stressed strict hygiene and isolation measures to contain further spread. (PC: India Today)

A US national evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius has tested positive for hantavirus, while another passenger showed mild symptoms during a repatriation flight from Spain, US health officials said. The passengers are travelling in biocontainment units as a precaution and will undergo medical screening upon arrival in Nebraska. The outbreak aboard the ship has already claimed three lives, including a Dutch couple and a German woman. Health authorities say the risk of widespread transmission remains low, although concerns persist over the Andes strain of hantavirus, which can spread between humans in rare cases. Several countries are now monitoring evacuated passengers. (PC: BBC)