All posts tagged: health authorities

Ebola outbreak 2026: Cases rise in Congo, death toll crosses 180; here’s what we know so far

Ebola outbreak 2026: Cases rise in Congo, death toll crosses 180; here’s what we know so far

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak has climbed to 782 confirmed cases and 181 deaths, health authorities said on Sunday, as the virus spread to new health zones in the country’s conflict-hit east and crossed into neighbouring Uganda. The current outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. (Representative/AFP) According to Congo’s Ministry of Health, the outbreak has now affected two additional health zones, Nia-Nia in Ituri province and Mabalako in North Kivu — raising concerns about further transmission as authorities race to contain the virus. The outbreak was declared on May 15, though health officials have said the virus had likely been circulating undetected for weeks before it was identified. The current outbreak is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a rare variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment. This distinguishes it from the Zaire strain, which caused most of Congo’s previous Ebola outbreaks and for which vaccines and treatments are available. Health authorities said 56 people have recovered from …

‘It’s under control, we hope’: Donald Trump on concerning cruise ship hantavirus outbreak

‘It’s under control, we hope’: Donald Trump on concerning cruise ship hantavirus outbreak

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he had been briefed on the concerning cruise ship-outbreak of hantavirus, and added that he hoped it was very much under control. A drone view of the cruise ship MV Hondius, carrying passengers suspected of having cases of hantavirus on board, leaves Praia, Cape Verde, May 6 (Reuters and AFP) Trump’s comments came during an impromptu visit to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC, where he has ordered a renovation project. “It’s very much, we hope, under control,” Trump told reporters Thursday. “It was the ship, and I think we’re going to make a full report about it tomorrow. We have a lot of people. It’s a lot of great people are studying it. It should be fine,” he said. An outbreak of the rare hantavirus emerged over weeks on a Duth-flagged cruise ship – MV Hondius – as it sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. At least three passengers have died so far and several others have fallen unwell, necessitating evacuation from the ship. Health authorities …