WHO puts Ebola outbreak death rate at 'huge' 30-50% as chief arrives in DRCTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calls for ceasefire among armed groups to help avoid deaths from preventable diseaseThe death rate of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is between 30% and 50%, the World Health Organization has said, as its head arrived in the country to support efforts to contain the disease.Anaïs Legand, from the WHO's high threat pathogens team, said the revised death rate estimate is based on confirmed cases. "It's huge. It means that up to five out of 10 people are likely to die," Legand told reporters in Geneva. Continue reading...
Friday briefing: What do the cuts in aid mean for the fight against Ebola in the DRC?In today's newsletter: As the virus spreads across borders, health workers warn that weakened global support is making a prolonged crisis more likelyEbola is spreading rapidly in parts of east Africa. The deadly disease, which kills around half of those it infects, is suspected to have claimed the lives of at least 240 people since the outbreak began in Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo earlier this month.Public health officials are scrambling to contain the virus in one of the toughest environments: Ituri province, the centre of the crisis , is a mining hub where thousands of people work in close proximity every day, and a conflict zone, with ongoing fighting between rebel groups. Medical facilities are modest, while waves of displaced people are being forced into overcrowded camps to escape fighting , making it even harder to control transmission. The virus has already spread to other regions in eastern DRC and the Ugandan capital Kampala. UK news | Britain risks a financial hit worth £125bn a year after a rise in the number of young people not in employment or education to more than 1 million. US-Israel-Iran | Donald Trump has circulated a draft peace agreement for the war with Iran among allies including Israel as both sides try to prevent fresh breaches of the ceasefire escalating out of control. UK politics | Andy Burnham has rolled back from his previous calls for ministers to scrap a restriction on immigrants claiming benefits as the Makerfield byelection places greater scrutiny on him. Ukraine | A Russian drone that was part of an overnight attack on Ukraine crashed into an apartment building in eastern Romania, injuring two people, authorities said, in what an official statement condemned as an "irresponsible escalation" by Moscow. Climate crisis | Abandoning net zero and drilling for more oil and gas would be a massive setback for the UK and would not help the economy, leading experts have said in response to Tony Blair. Continue reading...
Dormitory fire at Kenyan girls' school kills at least 16 studentsParents face anxious wait for updates after blaze tears through Utumishi girls academy in Gilgil, Nakuru countyA fire has ripped through a dormitory at a girls' school in Kenya's Rift valley, killing at least 16 students.The fire broke out just after midnight at Utumishi girls academy in Gilgil, Nakuru county, about 76 miles north-west of Nairobi, police said. Continue reading...
WHO chief calls for DRC ceasefire to tackle Ebola outbreakTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns of 'catastrophic collision of disease and conflict', as Uganda closes border with DRC The head of the World Health Organization has called for an immediate ceasefire in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to help tackle the Ebola outbreak there, as Uganda closed its border with its neighbour in an effort to stop the spread.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on social media that the region was in the midst of a "catastrophic collision of disease and conflict with the Ebola outbreak in Ituri province outpacing the response". Tedros said on Monday that he would travel to the DRC this week. Continue reading...
Alarm at Mexico bill allowing elections to be annulled for 'foreign interference'Opposition says constitutional amendment would give bill ruling party carte blanche to overturn will of voters Amid fierce criticism from opposition groups, Mexico's senate has passed a constitutional amendment to include "foreign interference" as grounds to annul election results in the country.The bill, which was presented by the country's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, defines foreign interference as "illicit financing, propaganda, the systematic dissemination of misinformation, digital manipulation, and the intervention of foreign governments or agencies". Continue reading...
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