Key facts
- Fighters linked to the Islamic State group, the ADF, killed at least 21 civilians in Mbau village, North Kivu, DRC.
- The ADF attack in Mbau involved arson and abductions.
- The ADF attack occurred near an area with four reported Ebola cases.
- The World Health Organization launched a $518 million, six-month plan for Africa's Ebola response.
- WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus stated the current Ebola response is insufficient.
- Uganda confirmed six new Ebola cases, bringing its total to 15.
- India delivered Ebola treatment aid to the Africa CDC in Uganda.
- Bangladesh has recorded 610 deaths from a measles outbreak since March 15.
- A Sudanese national was isolated in Hyderabad, India, with suspected Ebola symptoms.
- Three individuals returning from Ebola-affected African nations were quarantined in Durg, Chhattisgarh, India.
Fighters linked to the Islamic State group, specifically the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), have killed at least 21 civilians in Mbau village, North Kivu province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The attacks, which also saw homes set ablaze and civilians abducted, occurred overnight. The death toll rose after additional bodies were discovered. This violence took place near an area that has reported four Ebola cases, amidst a broader outbreak in the DRC.
In response to the escalating health crisis in Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) has initiated a $518 million, six-month plan to combat the Ebola outbreak. Despite this significant investment, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus has cautioned that the current response is insufficient, stating the virus has gained a "head start" and requires more robust measures. RedHill Biopharma is reportedly in discussions regarding potential collaborations for its drug opaganib.
Uganda has confirmed six new Ebola cases, bringing its national total to 15, according to the health ministry. The country received urgent medical assistance, including Ebola treatment aid, from the Indian Air Force, delivered to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Uganda at the request of the Africa CDC to bolster their response efforts.
Separately, Bangladesh is grappling with a severe measles outbreak, which has resulted in five additional child deaths, raising the total confirmed and suspected fatalities to 610 since March 15. In India, an Ebola scare involving a Sudanese national who arrived at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport with suspected symptoms led to his isolation in Hyderabad. Another scare in Rajasthan involving a Ugandan woman with suspected Ebola-like symptoms was ruled out after she tested negative for the virus. Three individuals returning from Ebola-affected African nations were placed under quarantine in Durg, Chhattisgarh, with state health officials asserting preparedness for potential outbreaks.