Overview
- The World Health Organization has declared the Ituri outbreak a public health emergency of international concern and reported cases and deaths are rising.
- Samaritan's Purse is sending a 767 cargo shipment carrying more than 34 tons of medical supplies and personal protective equipment routed through Uganda to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- The organisation has deployed outbreak, infection prevention and medical specialists and plans to coordinate with the DRC Ministry of Health to set up and operate an emergency Ebola Treatment Center.
- Local faith networks led by groups such as Tearfund are running hygiene promotion, early symptom reporting and safe-burial campaigns to reduce transmission and tackle stigma.
- Containment is hampered by the lack of an authorised vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain, high population movement that complicates contact tracing, and limited water, sanitation and funding in affected communities.