International News: Confirmed Ebola cases in Congo rise to 1,502; death toll reaches 473

By Zoila Palma:  The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has risen to 1,502, including 473 deaths, according to government data released on Friday. The outbreak continues to affect the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, where health authorities are battling sustained transmission of the Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD). The latest figures mark an increase from the 1,460 confirmed cases and 452 deaths reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) as of July 1. The outbreak has also spread beyond the DRC’s borders. Uganda has confirmed 20 cases, including two deaths, with officials reporting that the outbreak remains linked to transmission originating in the DRC. No new cases have been reported in Uganda since June 21. Meanwhile, French authorities confirmed on June 24 a case of Bundibugyo virus disease in a medical doctor who had returned from the DRC. National health authorities in the DRC and Uganda, supported by the WHO and international partners, continue to implement extensive response measures, while a regional preparedness framework remains in place to strengthen readiness across Africa. The post International News: Confirmed Ebola cases in Congo rise to 1,502; death toll reaches 473 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.