DR Congo reports 1,502 confirmed Ebola cases

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has reported 1,502 confirmed Ebola cases, including 473 deaths, as the World Health Organization (WHO) said the outbreak remains serious.

According to the latest situation report released Friday by the DRC public health authorities, 628 patients are currently in isolation or hospitalization, with the country recording 229 recoveries. A total of 213 suspected cases, including 63 deaths, have also been reported.

Speaking at an online media briefing, WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Yakub Janabi said the situation remains serious, with transmission continuing in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu.

Janabi said the current outbreak is the largest Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak ever recorded.

Pierre Akilimali, a WHO expert in the DRC, said the outbreak is occurring in areas affected by insecurity and armed group activities, making case detection and contact tracing difficult. Some affected areas in Ituri are mining zones, where frequent movement of people from outside has increased the risk of virus transmission.

The WHO said Thursday that a clinical trial had begun enrolling patients in the DRC to evaluate potential treatments for Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Slovakia will not participate in any financial mechanism intended to provide military support to Ukraine, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico declared on Friday.

Fico said the Slovak government believes the conflict in Ukraine has no military solution, but now there is a proposal to adopt a political declaration on a further 70-billion-euro aid in support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.

He added that Slovakia remained ready to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine but will not take part in any financial mechanism for military support to Ukraine.

NATO members are expected to pledge 70 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine at the NATO heads of state and government summit scheduled for July 7-8.