The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). This determination follows reports of eight confirmed cases and 246 suspected cases in Ituri Province, DRC, alongside two confirmed cases in Kampala, Uganda, linked to travel from DRC. The WHO emphasized the need for coordinated international efforts to manage the outbreak, enhance surveillance, and implement infection prevention measures, particularly in healthcare settings where there have been fatalities among healthcare workers. The organization has advised affected countries to activate emergency response mechanisms and engage communities in risk education and case identification to mitigate the spread of the virus.
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