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WHO Declares Congo Ebola Outbreak Global Health Emergency

The World Health Organization has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. The rare Bundibugyo strain circulated undetected for weeks before triggering the alarm. The virus has claimed at least 87 lives in northeastern Congo, a conflict-affected region where weak health infrastructure and prevalence of malaria and typhoid complicate detection efforts. The strain lacks an approved vaccine or treatment, hampering containment strategies. Disease surveillance gaps in areas with limited diagnostic capabilities allowed the outbreak to spread. The declaration aims to mobilize global resources and support. U.S. authorities have begun extracting American personnel from the affected region as health officials work to establish detection protocols and prevent further transmission across borders.