Four nurses have recovered and been discharged after receiving treatment for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
The cases were linked to the Bundibugyo strain, a rare form of Ebola currently driving the outbreak in the region.
The recoveries, confirmed at a hospital in Bunia in Ituri province, bring the total number of people who have recovered to five, following the earlier recovery of a laboratory worker. Health officials say more patients are expected to survive as early detection improves and access to treatment expands.
Despite these positive developments, the outbreak continues to spread. The number of confirmed cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 282, with 42 deaths recorded after new infections were identified in recent days. The outbreak, which has also affected neighbouring Uganda, was declared by WHO as a public health emergency of international concern earlier this month.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking during a visit to Bunia, said that although there is currently no licensed vaccine or approved specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, outcomes can improve significantly with proper care. He noted that survival is possible with timely and effective medical support.
Concerns are also increasing about the potential for the virus to spread beyond Africa. More than 1,100 suspected cases are under investigation, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which has warned that regional transmission is already taking place.
Outside the region, travel-linked suspected cases have been reported in Brazil and Italy. In São Paulo, a patient initially suspected of having Ebola was later confirmed to have meningitis, while another case in Rio de Janeiro tested positive for malaria. However, health authorities said Ebola has not been fully ruled out in either instance.
In Italy, a suspected case triggered emergency protocols in Cagliari after a man returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo showed symptoms. He later tested negative, and officials said the risk of Ebola in the country remained very low.
The current outbreak is the 17th recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the third-largest since the virus was first identified more than 50 years ago. Health experts warn that the global response has been slower than needed, raising concerns about the ability to contain the spread as cases continue to rise.
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Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 22 June, covering the latest developments you need to know. ...
The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 1,003 confirmed Ebola cases, including 254 deaths, as health officials warn the outbreak could escalate without rapid intervention.
The European Commission has announced €493 million in emergency support for the Ebola response, including funding for vaccines, treatment and health security measures.
Armed assailants have taken a woman and her young daughter from a health centre in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said, raising fresh concerns over the spread of Ebola in the region.
Uganda’s health ministry has raised concerns over what it described as unfair travel restrictions imposed during the current Ebola outbreak, warning that such measures risk undermining transparent reporting. .
A train driver has been killed and nine people remain in a critical condition in hospital, after two trains collided near Beford in the east of England on Friday. The passenger trains heading to London collided at around 17:15 local time (1615 GMT).
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck southwest of Greece’s island of Crete on Saturday, with no immediate reports of damage.
At least fifty-four people have been injured and 18 others remain missing following an explosion at Qatar's main liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing hub at Ras Laffan, authorities said on Sunday.
One person has died after two freight trains collided on a bridge in Munich in the early hours of Saturday, causing two carriages to derail and crash onto the street below, German police said.
Iran's top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, has said that the Strait of Hormuz is closed to ships again, citing alleged violations of a ceasefire agreement by the U.S. and Israel. Lebanon has said Israeli strikes killed 16 people on Saturday.
The United States has launched an investigation into Germany's pharmaceutical pricing policies to determine whether they unfairly disadvantage American companies and restrict U.S. commerce.
Australia has confirmed its first mainland case of H5N1 bird flu, ending its status as the only continent with a mainland free of the virus and prompting authorities to step up efforts to contain any spread.
The European Commission has announced €493 million in emergency support for the Ebola response, including funding for vaccines, treatment and health security measures.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed an $800 million contribution from the U.S., saying the funding will strengthen humanitarian operations as global hunger continues to rise.
A Canadian mother has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman, alleging that the company's ChatGPT chatbot encouraged her daughter's suicidal thoughts and failed to intervene before her death.
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