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World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns that the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) could worsen the outbreak in the country.
Developing
In Short: The head of the World Health Organization has warned of a 'catastrophic collision of disease and conflict' in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as Uganda closes its border to contain the Ebola outbreak.
The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has warned of a 'catastrophic collision of disease and conflict' in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as Uganda has closed its border with the country to prevent the spread of Ebola. The WHO chief called for an immediate ceasefire to help tackle the outbreak, which has seen 101 confirmed cases and over 3,000 possible contacts under investigation by the DRC's health ministry.
In response to the growing threat, Diana Atwine, a senior Ugandan health official, announced that the border would remain closed for four weeks, except for essential personnel and operations. This move comes as the DRC's health ministry reported 101 confirmed cases and is investigating more than 3,000 potential contacts.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has also announced his intention to travel to the DRC this week to assess the situation on the ground and coordinate the international response to the outbreak.
The World Health Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, coordinates global health responses and emergencies, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and regional offices worldwide.
Background
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has six regional offices and 150 field offices worldwide.
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- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns of ‘catastrophic collision of disease and conflict’, as Uganda closes border with DRC Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns of ‘catastrophic collision of disease and conflict’, as Uganda…
- Tedros said on Monday that he would travel to the DRC this week.
- The country’s health ministry said on Tuesday that 101 cases had been confirmed, and it was looking into more than 3,000 possible contacts.
- Diana Atwine, a senior Ugandan health official, told a press conference on Wednesday that Uganda’s border would be closed for four weeks, except to Ebola response teams, humanitarian and security operations and food…