More than 600 Ebola cases have been reported in the Congo amid the second-deadliest outbreak in history
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More than 600 Ebola cases have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the World Health Organization says violence is rising "in intensity and frequency," The Associated Press reports.
This second-deadliest Ebola outbreak in history has left 368 people dead since August, per CNN. Hundreds of refugees have made their way to the Ugandan border, near the outbreak's epicenter, since the DRC's presidential election Sunday, leading to fears that the virus could spread, AP reports. A Red Cross spokeswoman told AP that some trying to cross have been "forced back" after resisting the Ebola screenings that health officials have been conducting at the border.
The DRC prevented more than 1 million people from voting in its presidential election, which has sparked unrest. This, in addition to the government cutting off the internet, has made the Ebola response more difficult, AP reports. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that "prolonged insecurity" could result in additional cases. However, he also says "there is reason to be hopeful" that the outbreak will be contained soon as vaccines are distributed.
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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
