Rare Ebola strain hits a conflict zone, complicating outbreak response
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is being driven by a rare strain in an area that has long been affected by armed conflict, the BBC reports. Security conditions are making it difficult for health teams to deliver a full response.
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is being driven by a rare strain in an area that has long been affected by armed conflict, the BBC reports. Security conditions are making vaccination campaigns and contact tracing significantly harder to deliver in full.
The World Health Organization said cases are spreading faster than earlier estimates, with the lethality rate trending high on the initial data. The affected region includes settlements under control of armed groups, and health teams can move only along certain corridors under armed escort. Vaccines that worked against earlier strains are now being retested against this one.
The international community is stepping up cross-border screening to prevent the outbreak spreading to neighbouring countries. Hong Kong has become one of the first Asian jurisdictions to set up a dedicated Ebola quarantine facility on Lantau Island. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has also updated travel guidance, stressing airport screening.
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