Congolese authorities report a large daily increase in Ebola cases as the virus without a approved medicine or vaccine spreads rapidly. On Sunday, the Ministry of Health confirmed 72 new cases, bringing the total to 782, with 181 confirmed deaths. The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, is spreading in Congo’s remote eastern province of Ituri. The World Health Organization is intensifying testing and contact tracing. Africa’s top health body is deploying technical expertise to accelerate the response. Nearly a million people have been displaced by years of conflict in the region, complicating efforts to contain the outbreak.

The Congolese Ministry of Health reports that confirmed Ebola cases in Congo have increased to 782, with 181 deaths. The outbreak, declared on May 15, is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which lacks an approved vaccine or treatment. The situation is worsened by attacks on health workers, skepticism among locals and ongoing armed conflict. The outbreak is concentrated in the eastern Ituri province, accounting for over 90% of cases, and has spread to North and South Kivu provinces and Uganda. Challenges in contact tracing arise from the frequent movement of displaced people and artisanal miners in the region.

The Trump administration has put up $750,000 to charter a private yacht to evacuate a single American citizen from a remote South Pacific island after she had been aboard a cruise ship at the center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak. That's according to two U.S. officials and an internal government document obtained by The Associated Press. The woman, who may have been exposed to the virus while aboard the cruise liner in April, had gotten off the ship and flown to San Francisco before traveling to isolated Pitcairn Island through Tahiti. The costly evacuation has added strain to the State Department budget for unforeseen emergencies. Its balance is at the lowest level in seven years.

At least 100 people have died from Ebola less than a month after authorities declared an outbreak of the disease in eastern Congo. Attacks on health workers from angry residents, skepticism among some locals and armed conflict in hot spots continue to challenge efforts to stop the spread. Out of the 550 cases of the disease confirmed as of Sunday, there have been 101 deaths and 19 recoveries. That's according to the latest situation report late on Monday. However, the number of cases is believed to be higher because the outbreak was confirmed weeks late, and the response has been challenging in part because the virus has no approved vaccine or treatment.

Survivors including health and aid workers recall their experiences and lessons during the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo. The outbreak, history’s second-biggest with more than 3,400 reported cases and over 2,200 deaths, was stopped with the aid of vaccines. In Beni, a bustling commercial hub near the borders with Uganda and Rwanda, some fear that a repeat of mistakes made at the time and the lack of an approved vaccine might make the response to the current outbreak more challenging. A total of 550 cases of the disease were confirmed as of Sunday in the current outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which can cause Ebola disease, including 101 deaths and 19 recoveries.

Authorities have raced to slow the Ebola disease outbreak in Congo with strict measures, including by limiting public gatherings and enforcing social distancing. Officials have also urged people to limit physical contact, wash their hands regularly and report suspected cases quickly. The precautions, though not always adhered to, are reshaping social life in a country where weddings are typically vibrant, daylong celebrations bringing together hundreds of relatives, friends and well-wishers. For Jean Claude Érable and his bride Solange Hahati, celebrating their wedding on Saturday in such conditions meant having some family members and friends absent on one of their happiest days.

Health workers inside the epicenter of Congo's outbreak say they are working with little pay or rest. The mining town of Mongbwalu attracts a huge number of laborers for large gold mines who live in crowded mining camps. That makes the transmission of the disease easier. The virus spreads through close contact with sick or deceased patients’ bodily fluids. Congolese authorities said Sunday that there are 488 confirmed cases including 86 deaths. The Central African nation on Thursday recorded 71 new cases. Authorities say that's a sign of active community transmission. There have been 19 confirmed cases and two deaths in neighboring Uganda.

In Congo, the battle against the rare Bundibugyo type of Ebola has been complicated by skepticism, attacks on health workers and misinformation. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported at least 63 deaths from 397 confirmed cases as of Friday. Many locals dismissed the outbreak as a conspiracy. In response, journalist Vérité Johnson launched a radio program in Bunia to combat rumors and educate residents. The World Health Organization and Africa CDC have launched a $518 million response plan. Resistance to health protocols is common in Congo, fueled by mistrust and misinformation, complicating efforts to contain the virus.

The World Health Organization chief says Congo's Ebola outbreak had a head start but that testing is improving, even as violence plagues the region. Since mid-May, 344 cases and 60 deaths have been confirmed in three eastern provinces. The number of suspected cases has dropped significantly. Uganda has 15 confirmed cases, including one death. The outbreak involves a rare Ebola type with no approved medicine or vaccine. Limited testing and access issues make assessing the outbreak's extent difficult. WHO's Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that only 45% of contacts have been traced, with insecurity and displacement complicating efforts. Health workers face challenges, including attacks and skepticism about Ebola's existence.

The World Health Organization has declared an Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency. Authorities have reported 134 confirmed cases in Congo and nine in Uganda. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare type of Ebola with no approved medicines or vaccines. The situation is complicated by conflict and displacement in the region. Health workers face challenges due to equipment shortages and community distrust. Despite aid from various organizations, the response has struggled to keep pace. The WHO is exploring vaccine options, but this will take time.