WHO raises the Ebola risk assessment in Congo to “very high”

The World Health Organization has raised the risk level of the “Bundibugyo” strain of Ebola virus spreading into a national outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to “very high,” amid international concern about this strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment.
The Director-General of the Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told reporters: “We are now adjusting our risk assessment to very high at the national level, high at the regional level, and low at the global level.”
Tedros stated, “The measures taken in Uganda, including intensive contact tracing and cancellation of public gatherings, appear to be effective in stopping the spread of the virus.” He added: “We are also aware of reports of another American citizen who was in contact with a high-risk person and was transferred to the Czech Republic.”
To date, 82 cases of infection have been confirmed in Congo, in addition to 7 confirmed deaths, 177 suspected deaths due to the virus, and nearly 750 suspected cases.