African Health Officials On Ebola: ‘This Is Too Much’ (Live Updates)

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) issued a warning on Monday that 11 African countries are now at risk due to an ongoing Ebola outbreak, which has killed 220 people and infected 246 in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri Province. Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya called the situation dire, stating, ‘This is too much. We cannot afford to have more Africans dying.’ The outbreak has been declared an ‘extraordinary event’ by the World Health Organization (WHO), which also confirmed the strain as Bundibugyo, for which no vaccine exists. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced he will travel to Congo on Tuesday to assess the crisis firsthand, warning that the epidemic is spreading faster than response efforts. The outbreak has seen three attacks on Ebola treatment facilities in four days, including an incident in Mongbwalu where a tent housing patients was set on fire. Authorities reported that at least 18 people with suspected Ebola cases fled during the attack, which occurred after locals protested burial restrictions meant to prevent disease transmission. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that several Americans, including Dr. Peter Stafford, an American missionary who contracted Ebola while working in Congo, have been exposed. One American has developed symptoms consistent with the disease, though CDC officials maintain the risk to the American public remains low. Meanwhile, the U.S. imposed new travel restrictions, barring non-U.S. passport holders who have visited Uganda, Congo, or South Sudan in the past 21 days from entering the country. The situation has also prompted global concern, with U.S. President Trump expressing worry about the outbreak. Enhanced public health screenings for travelers from affected regions have been introduced, while international health organizations continue to urge cooperation to contain the spread. The WHO emphasized that no single country can respond effectively alone, highlighting the need for a coordinated global effort.