WHO sounds regional warning over Ebola outbreaks in Congo, Guinea

An outbreak of Ebola in Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea poses a regional risk that requires exceptional vigilance, a senior World Health Organisation official said on Monday. Congo has confirmed four cases of Ebola since a resurgence of the virus was announced on Feb. 7 in Butembo, the epicentre of a previous outbreak that was declared over last June.

An Ebola vaccination campaign has begun in Butembo, in eastern DRC, the WHO said in a tweet on Monday. Separately, the West African country of Guinea declared a new Ebola outbreak on Sunday, with seven confirmed cases and three deaths. "We have to be exceptionally vigilant, highly alert", Mike Ryan, WHO's top emergency expert, told a news briefing.

"This disease (Ebola) represents a regional risk" The Ebola virus causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea and is spread through contact with body fluids.

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