WHO chief urges ceasefire in DRC to curb Ebola

The head of the World Health Organization has called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to help tackle the Ebola outbreak, as Uganda closed its border with its neighbour. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the region was in the midst of a "catastrophic collision of disease and conflict" and will travel to the DRC this week.

Suspected cases in eastern DRC are nearing 1,000 with at least 220 suspected deaths; the health ministry has confirmed 101 cases and is tracing more than 3,000 possible contacts. In Uganda there were seven confirmed cases and one death as of Sunday. Aid groups said a quarter of confirmed deaths were children and are rushing staff and equipment to eastern DRC, but attacks on medics and health facilities have hampered efforts.

In Mongbwalu unidentified individuals burned tents where patients were being isolated, allowing dozens to flee; seven more patients escaped the next day and one person suspected of having Ebola died haemorrhaging while trying to flee.

Democratic Republic of the Congo, eastern DRC

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