DRC Ebola Outbreak Expected To Last At Least 6 More Months, Could Cross Borders; More Research Needed Into Why More Women Contracting Virus

CIDRAP News: WHO expert: Ebola outbreak to continue at least 6 more months
“In an interview, Peter Salama, MD, the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) deputy director general for emergency preparedness and response, said the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is likely to continue for at least another six months, as DRC officials [Thursday] confirmed five new cases…” (Soucheray, 1/17).

The Guardian: Ebola cases in Congo expected to double amid fears outbreak could cross borders
“The number of Ebola cases recorded each day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is expected to more than double, with concern mounting that uncertainty over how the virus is being transmitted could result in it spreading to neighboring countries. On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated its warning that there is a very high risk of the outbreak spreading not only across DRC but also to Uganda, Rwanda, and even South Sudan…” (Ratcliffe, 1/18).

Thomson Reuters Foundation: More women catch Ebola in Congo in ‘unexpected’ twist of gender roles
“About two-thirds of patients in Congo’s latest Ebola outbreak have been women, the World Health Organization said on Thursday, calling for more focus on gender in disease control and prevention. … In past Ebola outbreaks, including the largest which killed 11,300 people in West Africa in 2014-2016, the proportion of women and men affected was roughly equal, WHO experts said. … ‘This is unexpected,’ said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, calling for more research…” (Peyton, 1/17).

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