CIDRAP News: DRC Ebola total grows by 15; new antiviral clears hurdle
“An ongoing surge of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) saw another double-digit rise [Friday], with 15 new cases, the health ministry said in its daily update. In other developments, a U.S. research team announced [last week] it has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance to use animal models in its development of remdesivir, one of the experimental treatments being used to treat patients in the DRC outbreak…” (Schnirring, 3/29).

Reuters: Ebola treatment center in Congo reopens after attack
“An Ebola treatment center located at the epicenter of the current outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has resumed operations after it was attacked last month, the country’s health ministry said on Saturday. The center run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in the district of Katwa was set on fire on Feb. 24 by unknown attackers, forcing staff to evacuate patients. … ‘For now it is managed by the ministry in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF,’ [a health ministry statement] said…” (Mahamba/Jabkhiro, 3/30).

U.N. News: Ebola cases rising in DR Congo, but U.N. health agency cites progress in community trust-building
“… ‘No major security incidents’ have been reported in the last 10 days but the overall situation remains ‘fragile,’ WHO says — a reference to several recent attacks on Ebola Treatment Centers by armed groups. … WHO insisted, meanwhile, that efforts to encourage communities to participate more in countering Ebola, had been successful…” (3/29).

Additional coverage of the DRC Ebola outbreak and response is available from the Associated Press, Homeland Preparedness News, and Reuters.