The BMJ: Congo’s Ebola epidemic is now its worst ever and still spreading
“Political unrest over the Democratic Republic of Congo’s recent election as well as continued guerrilla activity in the country’s north east have hampered the response to an Ebola epidemic … The World Health Organization said that protesters targeted dozens of clinics around disease hotspots like Beni and Butembo, where they are often seen as outposts of the central government…” (Dyer, 1/28).

CIDRAP News: Congo Ebola cases rise to 736 as problems noted in Katwa
“Over the weekend and through [Monday], the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported 15 more Ebola cases, including five earlier probable infections from Komanda, one of the areas where responders had faced security challenges. … The new cases boost the overall outbreak total to 736 cases, which include 682 confirmed and 54 probable infections…” (Schnirring, 1/28).

Healio: South Sudan begins vaccinating against Ebola
“Health care workers and other front-line responders in South Sudan are being vaccinated against Ebola amid a worsening outbreak of the disease in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC, WHO announced. Fearing cross-border spread from the DRC, Uganda began vaccinating front-line workers in November…” (1/28).

Additional coverage of the DRC Ebola outbreak, response, and research into new treatments is available from CIDRAP News, Homeland Preparedness News, and Science Speaks.