Overview
- The Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed on Sunday that two cases, including one death, were detected in Nord‑Ubangi, taking the outbreak into an eighth province and bringing the national total to about 9,400 cases and more than 4,500 deaths.
- Kenya reported its eighth confirmed Bundibugyo infection on Sunday when a 49‑year‑old patient attendant tested positive while in quarantine after caring for the country’s first Ebola patient.
- Most new Kenyan cases have been among close contacts and health workers who were already quarantined, and authorities say 128 of 130 identified contacts have been traced and placed under monitoring with no confirmed community transmission so far.
- The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain for which there is no licensed vaccine or targeted treatment, prompting WHO, Africa CDC and partners to step up protective gear, surveillance and preparations for Phase 2/3 vaccine trials.
- Response teams face practical obstacles that raise transmission risk, including mass population movements, rebel violence, poor access in border areas, and community mistrust, and neighboring states have tightened screening and traveler monitoring to limit further spread.