The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become the largest ever recorded, with more than 1,400 confirmed cases and over 400 deaths.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, disclosed this on Friday during an online media briefing on the Ebola situation in the DRC and Uganda.

Mr Janabi described the outbreak as one of Africa’s most serious public health emergencies this year and called for sustained international support to bring the virus under control.

Despite the rising number of infections, he said response efforts have recorded encouraging progress through stronger surveillance, improved contact tracing, earlier case detection and increasing patient recoveries.

According to him, transmission remains concentrated in a small number of hotspots, although weekly infections have reached their highest levels since the outbreak began, highlighting the need for intensified response measures.

Mr Janabi noted that the current outbreak has surpassed all previous Bundibugyo Ebola outbreaks combined, exceeding those recorded in Uganda in 2007 and the DRC in 2012.

“Contact tracing has improved significantly, rising from 25 to 83 per cent in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Uganda has achieved 100 per cent follow-up of identified contacts,” he said.

“Better surveillance has increased case detection, explaining that higher reported infections partly reflect improved community trust and stronger health systems.

“Earlier detection enables patients to receive treatment sooner, improves monitoring of contacts, and helps health workers interrupt transmission before additional infections occur.”

Mr Janabi warned that a recent imported Ebola case in Uganda demonstrates the continued threat of cross-border transmission as long as infections persist in the eastern DRC.

He called for stronger collaboration between neighboring countries through timely information sharing, coordinated preparedness, and joint surveillance to prevent further international spread.

He also commended the governments of Uganda and DRC, frontline health workers, Africa CDC, and development partners for sustaining response efforts under difficult conditions.

Clinical trial

Mr Janabi announced the enrollment of the first patients into a WHO-supported clinical trial evaluating potential treatments specifically targeting the Bundibugyo Ebola virus.

He described the trial as a major scientific milestone that could improve patient care during the current outbreak while strengthening future Ebola responses.

He urged governments to expand treatment capacity, accelerate laboratory testing, rapidly investigate suspected cases, and ensure health workers receive adequate protection and support.

He also appealed for sustained financial support, noting that response efforts require resources, speed, and partnerships rather than commitment alone.

Also, the Director-General, Ministry of Health in Uganda, Charles Olaro, said that the country reported 20 confirmed Ebola cases as of 2 July, including 15 imported infections and five Ugandan nationals identified during institutional quarantine.

Mr Olaro said no community transmission has been recorded in Uganda, with surveillance systems remaining fully activated to detect and contain new infections.

“Uganda has monitored 836 identified contacts, while several have completed the mandatory 21-day follow-up period without developing Ebola symptoms,” he said.

READ ALSO: WHO launches clinical trial for new Ebola treatment in DR Congo

He said experience from previous outbreaks had enhanced Uganda’s preparedness by improving surveillance, community engagement, laboratory capacity and emergency response coordination.

“Uganda and the DRC continue sharing surveillance information through a formal cross-border response mechanism to strengthen regional outbreak containment.

“Laboratory testing capacity in DRC has expanded dramatically, increasing from fewer than 30 daily samples to more than 2,000.

“More than 200 patients have recovered and been discharged from treatment centres, reflecting improvements in clinical care and earlier diagnosis.”

He added that epidemiological trends remain concerning, projecting that confirmed cases could approach 1,500 if transmission continues in affected hotspots.

According to Mr Olaro, the outbreak can still be contained through sustained funding, regional solidarity, scientific innovation, and continued cooperation among governments, communities, and international partners.

(NAN)

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has recalled Ola-Ola Authentic Pounded Yam (Iyan) IYANINSTANT after finding that it contains undeclared milk, an allergen that can trigger serious reactions in sensitive consumers.

The recall, issued on 26 June, was classified as a food recall warning involving an undeclared allergen.

According to the CFIA, the product is being removed from the market because it contains milk but does not list it on the label.

“The affected product is being recalled from the marketplace because it contains milk, which is not declared on the label,” the CFIA said.

The recalled product is sold in a 1.815kg package with UPC 6 50655 49687 3. The recall applies to all product codes where milk is not declared as an ingredient.

The agency warned that consumers who are allergic to or sensitive to milk should not consume the product, as it could cause a serious or potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

Consumers were advised not to use, sell, serve or distribute the recalled product and to either dispose of it safely or return it to the store where it was purchased.

The CFIA said the recall was initiated following a consumer complaint.

As of the recall notice, no allergic reactions linked to the product had been reported.

The agency added that it is carrying out a food safety investigation, which could result in additional products being recalled if necessary. It is also verifying that the affected product is being removed from retail shelves.

READ ALSO: NAFDAC warns Nigerians as US recalls children’s ibuprofen over contamination concerns

Background

Milk is one of Canada’s priority food allergens and must be clearly declared on food labels under the country’s food safety regulations. Undeclared allergens are among the leading reasons for food recalls in Canada because they pose significant health risks to individuals with food allergies.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency regularly issues recalls to protect consumers and monitors the effectiveness of product removals from the marketplace.