Uganda On High Alert As DR Congo Battles Ebola Outbreak

The World Health Organization has delivered tonnes of medical supplies to the Democratic Republic Congo (DR Congo) as it grapples with the latest outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, the 16th time the central African nation has been afflicted by the disease.

Authorities in neighboring Uganda say the country is on high alert as they monitor the situation across the border.

Earlier, the Democratic Republic of Congo confirmed its latest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in Kasai province, where 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers, have been reported. 

The index case is a 34-year-old pregnant woman admitted to the hospital with symptoms including high fever and repeated vomiting. Samples tested at the country's National Institute of Biomedical Research confirmed the cause of the outbreak as Ebola Zaire caused by Ebola virus disease.

In Kasai province, previous outbreaks of Ebola virus disease were reported in 2007 and 2008. The World Health Organization (WHO) said it was "acting with determination to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and protect communities".

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