NewzVille Desk
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern, while clarifying that the outbreak did not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency.
The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, has so far recorded over 80 deaths, eight laboratory-confirmed infections, and 246 suspected cases in Congo.
The strain, which was first identified in 2007, has also killed a Congolese national in neighbouring Uganda.
It is the 17th Ebola outbreak to hit the DRC, and officials warned of a high risk of spread as there is no vaccine for the latest Ebola strain.
Vaccines are only available for the Zaire strain, which was identified in 1976 and has a higher fatality rate of 60–90 percent.
