Ebola outbreak passes 10,000 cases in DRC after nurse killed, another injured

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 10,000 cases, claiming nearly 5,000 lives and marking the second largest global outbreak. The toll includes more than 2,700 children among the infected, according to Save the Children. A recent attack on health workers resulted in the death of one nurse and injury to another.

The outbreak, which began in mid-May, has spread across eight provinces, with cases persisting in conflict-ridden areas that struggle with food insecurity and lack of access to healthcare. This outbreak is unique as it features the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, which evaded detection by initial tests and lacks a vaccine. Two countries, Kenya and Nigeria, have reported their first cases of the Bundibugyo strain.

As a response, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is convening a virtual meeting of African health ministers to expedite the response. Uganda has imposed travel restrictions, and WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus condemned the recent attack on health workers, emphasizing the need for protection for those battling the deadly disease.