The WHO has increased its risk assessment of the DRC’s ongoing ebola outbreak, and one that is now the seventh largest ebola outbreak in the history of the virus. 150 confirmed cases and 104 deaths have been reported, with health officials calling the situation a “perfect storm” that could spill out of control in the region as it battles a variety of security risks and continued militia attacks. Local politicians have also been blamed for exploiting Ebola fears in the sunup to a December election. The geography of the outbreak is also posing a difficult problem; the cases are currently spread out across an extensive, mountainous area that is difficult to access. Within this area are also several “red zones” where health workers are unable to pass due to security risks. If the virus continues to spread in this zones, health workers warn that the disease could spread beyond its current limits and into neighboring provinces and countries, growing into the a breakout like the 2014-2015 epidemic in West Africa.
Source: DRC Ebola outbreak: WHO warns of “perfect storm” – Vox
