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The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda is overwhelming current response capabilities. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that a delay in detecting cases has put responders in a reactive position, describing the situation as 'playing catch-up.' He anticipates the epidemic will likely intensify before improving.

Tedros announced his intention to visit Congo, the outbreak's epicenter, along with another senior WHO official responsible for health emergencies. Uganda has reported an increase in confirmed cases, bringing its total to seven. The WHO has declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola a public health emergency of international concern, urging neighboring countries to take immediate action due to their high risk.

Containment efforts are further complicated by the prevailing insecurity in Congo's Ituri and North Kivu provinces. Additionally, there are no approved vaccines specifically for the Bundibugyo virus, making the response more challenging. In a separate incident, local residents in the DR Congo attacked a town hospital overnight, demanding the release of a religious leader's body who had died from the virus.

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playing catch-up