Ebola infections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) have rebounded after a brief decline, while the virus's spread to other African countries is complicating efforts to contain the outbreak that has already claimed more than 4,600 lives, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned in its latest situation report Wednesday.
"The most recent seven-day moving average indicates a modest upward trend, suggesting renewed intensification of transmission," the WHO Regional Office for Africa said in the report, highlighting the outbreak's "widening international dimension and the growing complexity."
The DR Congo recorded 1,466 confirmed cases between Sept 29 and Oct 19, up 10.4 percent from the preceding 21-day period, while confirmed deaths rose 7.5 percent to 692, according to the report.
As of Oct 19, the DR Congo had recorded 9,637 confirmed cases and 4,646 deaths across eight of its 26 provinces.
Meanwhile, the outbreak's international spread has added a new layer of complexity to containment efforts.
Kenya has reported nine confirmed cases, including one death, with all eight secondary infections linked to an imported case and detected among people already under quarantine, according to the WHO report.
Nigeria confirmed its first case on Tuesday, involving a woman who had traveled from Uganda earlier this month. The WHO warned that the prolonged interval between symptom onset and laboratory confirmation raised concerns about "potentially undetected exposures and secondary transmission."
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Tuesday that the outbreak had become the most geographically widespread Ebola epidemic on record, with infections reported across Central, Eastern and Western Africa.
In its latest assessment, the WHO said the outbreak remained "at a critical juncture," warning that escalating insecurity, population displacement and restricted humanitarian access in the DR Congo were "further challenging response operations and increasing the risk of undetected transmission."
Ebola outbreak rebounds in DR Congo as cross-border spread heightens concerns: WHO
Ebola outbreak rebounds in DR Congo as cross-border spread heightens concerns: WHO
At least 16 people have been killed and 11 seriously injured as of 05:20 on Friday after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Thursday night, according to Nagqu City's earthquake relief headquarters.
Local rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the epicenter of the quake in Baqeng County in Xizang’s Nagqu City, with an advance team from the Baqen County Fire and Rescue Brigade, consisting of eight personnel and two vehicles, successfully rescuing one trapped survivor after arriving at the scene in the early hours of Friday.
The Xizang Fire and Rescue Corps immediately mobilized 347 rescue personnel, 82 fire vehicles, and 15 search-and-rescue dogs, along with over 4,200 pieces of equipment and more than 9,400 items of logistical support supplies, to the quake zone.
Public security departments in Xizang also dispatched over 300 police officers to assist emergency rescue and relief operations. The police contingent will help evacuate residents to safe areas, assess structural damage to buildings, and ensure security in affected areas.
The epicenter of the quake, which struck at 22:33 on Thursday at a depth of 10km, was monitored at 32.40 degrees north latitude and 93.79 degrees east longitude, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
Xizang has activated a Level-II earthquake disaster emergency response, according to the regional emergency command center.
Maru Township, at the epicenter of the earthquake, is about 70 km from the county seat.
Lhawang Dagpo, deputy head of the township, said there had been reports of collapsed houses in Maru, and that rescue and relief operations were underway in villages across the township.
He added that the tremor was clearly felt at the township government office, where the walls of the office building sustained cracks.
Strong shaking was reported in the county seat of Baqen, where power was cut off and telecommunications services were disrupted.
Tremors were also felt in other parts of Xizang, including Qamdo and Nyingchi.
The office of the State Council earthquake relief headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management activated a Level-IV emergency response after the earthquake, sending a work team to the affected areas to guide emergency response and disaster relief work, according to the ministry.
A 4.3-magnitude aftershock was felt in Zadoi County in Qinghai Province, which borders Baqen County, at 23:12 on Thursday, according to CENC.
Strong tremors were felt in townships along the border between the two counties, with cracks appearing in some houses. No building collapses or casualties have been confirmed in these areas.
At least 16 killed in Xizang earthquake: local emergency command
