WHO raises Congo’s Ebola risk after confirming a case in a major city
The risk for neighbouring countries has also been raised, as the city of Mbandaka is on major transport routes
Geneva — The World Health Organisation has raised its assessment of the public health risk that the Democratic Republic of Congo faces from Ebola. DRC now faces a "very high" risk, the WHO said, after the disease was confirmed in one patient in a major city — raising the assessment from "high" previously. The risk to countries in the region has been raised to "high" from "moderate", but the global risk remains "low". The reassessment came after the first confirmed case in Mbandaka, a city of about 1.5-million people. Previous reports of the disease had all been in remote areas where Ebola might spread more slowly. "The confirmed case in Mbandaka, a large urban centre located on major national and international river, road and domestic air routes, increases the risk of spread within DRC and to neighbouring countries," the WHO said. WHO’s deputy director-general for emergency preparedness and response, Peter Salama, had told reporters on Thursday that the risk assessment was being rev...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.