Oct 26, 2018

WHO warns of "intense" transmission of Ebola in parts of Congo city

Eileen Drage O'Reilly
Data: Ministry of Health DRC; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios

The World Health Organization warned Thursday that security incidents continue to "severely impede" public health activities working to contain the deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where transmission is "intense" in some communities in the city of Beni.

Why it matters: Recent violence has halted education and vaccination campaigns several times, jeopardizing strides made in containing the outbreak, such as tracking contacts of infected people, educating wary community members and administering vaccinations.

Yes, but: There's some good news too. WHO says they don't plan on reducing their roughly 250-person response team there, the DRC's Ministry of Health says they've been able to resume vaccinations, and WHO's Peter Salama says there has been "significant progress" in certain areas, like community engagement.

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Marisa Fernandez

Measles-related death toll tops 6,000 in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Deaths from measles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo surpassed 6,000, with children over the age of 5 most vulnerable to the infectious disease, new data from the World Health Organization showed Tuesday.

Why it matters: About 310,000 suspected measles cases, one-fourth of which are in kids over age 5, have been reported since the beginning of 2019. Vaccinations for children have made headway in some parts of the country, but public health officials are still trying to keep the disease at bay.

Go deeper: DRC health leader discusses what's being done to fight Ebola

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Eileen Drage O'Reilly

China virus kills one and spreads to Thailand, but U.S. threat remains minimal

Security guards in front of the closed wholesale seafood market in Wuhan, where a man who recently died from the coronavirus had purchased goods. Photo: Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images

A mysterious virus discovered in Wuhan, China, is believed to have played a role in the death of a patient, while another case has been reported by a person who traveled from Wuhan to Thailand, the World Health Organization confirmed Monday.

The latest: Chinese officials said Sunday that one out of 41 confirmed patients has died, but cautioned that they had underlying health issues. A public health official said the U.S. is not overly concerned the virus might spread here.

Go deeperArrowJan 13, 2020
Eileen Drage O'Reilly

China hunts cause of mysterious pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan

Wuhan, China. Photo: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

The cause of an outbreak of pneumonia in China that's sickened at least 59 people in the city of Wuhan remains a mystery, although Chinese officials say it is not the deadly SARS virus and doesn't appear to spread quickly between people.

Why it matters: There's no reason for Americans to be concerned at this point, but the source needs to be determined to halt its spread, says Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Wuhan, which has a population of 19 million, is the capital of Hubei province, home to 58 million people.

Go deeperArrowJan 6, 2020