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.

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 reports that five patients have recovered from a rare type of Ebola virus in eastern Congo. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the recoveries during a visit to Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri. The Bundibugyo virus, the current species of Ebola, has no approved treatment or vaccine. Despite improved health facilities, the virus is spreading faster than the response. Doctors Without Borders is calling for expanded testing and faster aid deployment. Local anger over burial protocols has led to attacks on health centers. WHO is emphasizing community involvement in the outbreak response.

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.

President Donald Trump is giving his endorsement to a January study by the Department of Health and Human Services that calls for cutting the number of vaccines recommended for every American child. An executive order that Trump signed on Friday directs federal agencies to align their policies behind the study, which recommended an overhaul long called for by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The study found that the United States recommends more childhood vaccines than many peer nations. The study recommends vaccinating all children against 11 diseases. Several others would be moved to a category of vaccines recommended only for high-risk groups or if doctors recommend it.

Aid supplies have been rushed in to the center of Congo's Ebola outbreak where medical workers are struggling with equipment shortages, distrustful locals and armed groups. On Thursday, a white cargo plane delivered masks, gloves, boots, and medications donated by the European Union to Bunia, a northeastern town at the heart of the outbreak. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency. The Congolese government has confirmed over 1,000 suspected cases and at least 220 deaths. The virus has also reached Uganda. The response faces challenges like customs delays, bad roads and weak telecommunications.

Healthcare workers in eastern Congo say they are underprotected and undertrained as a rare Ebola virus spreads rapidly in one of the world’s most remote and vulnerable places. The virus known as Bundibugyo had spread undetected for weeks and will take months to control. So far, 51 cases have been confirmed in Congo, with two in Uganda. The World Health Organization says the outbreak poses a low global risk but that local case numbers will increase. The arrival of any potential vaccine is months away. The region faces immense pressure from conflict and a collapsing health system, stretching limited resources even further.