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.
From
To
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.
Immigrant detainees across at least 33 states allege in court documents that the government is failing to provide them with adequate medical care. An investigation by The Associated Press and KFF Health News found that detainees are being denied access to doctors and medications for maladies ranging from dental pain to pregnancy to prostate cancer. Detainees say their requests for help have gone unanswered as blood sugars rise, infections fester and cancers remain untreated. Their allegations span the sprawling detention system, including county jails, large private facilities and quickly staged sites such as “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida.
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.
AP Wire
New research shows a novel pill is helping people with advanced pancreatic cancer live longer. It's not a cure, as the drug's effects eventually waned. But it's a very different kind of treatment than the chemotherapy that is a mainstay for these patients. Called daraxonrasib, the drug is designed to block a mutated protein that fuels most cases of pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest types of cancer. The research was published Sunday in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at an American Society of Oncology meeting. Maker Revolution Medicines will seek Food and Drug Administration approval.
AP Wire
The head of the World Health Organization has visited Bunia in eastern Congo, where a rare Ebola outbreak is spreading rapidly. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized building community trust and safe burials to prevent the virus's spread. He urged countries to reconsider travel bans, saying they discourage transparency. He said that Congo had faced Ebola 16 times before and ended each outbreak. The current outbreak has 906 suspected cases and 223 deaths. Medical aid from the EU and the U.S. has arrived, but Doctors Without Borders warns the response is not keeping pace with the outbreak.
Postpartum depression is a potentially dangerous condition that can fill a typically joyous time with despair. The mood disorder has been on the rise. A 2024 study in the journal JAMA Network Open found that U.S. rates more than doubled in just over a decade. They climbed from 9.4% in 2010 to 19% in 2021, partly due to improved screening and diagnosis. For many women, it can be hard to differentiate postpartum depression from the much milder and more common “baby blues” brought on by plummeting hormone levels. But doctors say recognizing and treating postpartum depression is crucial to recovery.