Ebola deaths reach 220 in 11 African countries

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned Monday that 11 African countries are now considered at risk from an Ebola outbreak centered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The organization’s director general stated that the situation exceeds current response capacity.

World Health Organization Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus said the death toll has reached 220 and that the epidemic is outpacing available measures. He announced plans to travel to Congo on Tuesday.

Sunday, a group of young men entered a hospital treating Ebola patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and opened fire while attempting to recover bodies, according to the Associated Press. The incident marked the third attack on treatment facilities in four days.

Travel Measures and U.S.

On Monday, May 18, President Donald Trump said he is concerned about the outbreak. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assessed the risk to the American public as low and, together with the Department of Homeland Security, announced enhanced screening and entry restrictions for non-U.S. passport holders who have been in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or South Sudan in the prior 21 days.

The Africa CDC confirmed the outbreak on May 15 in Ituri Province and identified the Bundibugyo strain, which has no approved vaccine.