DRC Ebola outbreak fastest-growing with most new cases from unknown transmission chains: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the fastest-growing ever recorded, with the majority of new infections now coming from unknown chains of transmission.

Chikwe Ihekweazu, executive director of the WHO's Health Emergencies Program, unveiled the new finding at a press briefing held in Geneva, Switzerland after returning from the epicenter in Ituri Province.

He said the scale of the Ebola outbreak in the DRC has reached an alarming level.

"As of July the 11th, we had seen close to 2,000 confirmed cases and over 700 deaths across the five provinces now. This is now the third-largest Ebola outbreak ever, and we've seen the fastest growth in a single month since the outbreak started and of all the Ebola outbreaks that we have managed," said Ihekweazu.

He warned that a majority of new cases are coming from unknown transmission chains.

"Perhaps the most alarming finding is that many of the newly reported deaths are people who died in their communities without ever reaching a health facility and without receiving care. And as of today, 80 percent of new cases are outside our contact lists and so are coming from unknown chains of transmission," said Ihekweazu.

The outbreak was declared two months ago. While up to 95 percent of new cases still originate in Ituri, the virus has recently spread to two additional provinces, Haut-Uele and Tshopo.

To tackle the crisis, the WHO outlined a dual strategy: intensifying response efforts in the epicenter while mapping travel routes and identifying high-risk areas for potential new cases.

Urging the international community not to become "despondent", Ihekweazu stressed that results are being achieved. "Now is not the time to drop the ball," he said.

Although several therapeutics are undergoing clinical trials and no approved treatment yet exists for the Bundibugyo species, early supportive care significantly improves survival. "We must find the cases earlier, bring them into care as soon as possible," Ihekweazu concluded.

DRC Ebola outbreak fastest-growing with most new cases from unknown transmission chains: WHO

China's National Meteorological Center on Thursday renewed a yellow alert for high temperatures as parts of the country are set to embrace temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius are forecast across large parts of central and eastern China, including Henan, Anhui, Shanghai and parts of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The heat is also expected to affect the Sichuan Basin in southwest China, parts of Jiangxi in east China, Hubei and Hunan in central China, and Xinjiang in the northwest.

Some areas could record temperatures as high as 37 to 39 degrees Celsius. Temperatures in parts of eastern Sichuan, western Chongqing in southwest China, northern Xinjiang and the Turpan Basin may exceed 40 degrees Celsius, the meteorological center said.

The yellow alert is the middle level in the National Meteorological Center's three-tier heat warning system with red being the highest.

The forecaster advised the public to take precautions against heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses. The areas affected by high temperatures in southern China are expected to shrink from Friday.

China renews heat alert as parts of country expect temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius