Health officials in Uganda have confirmed the first cross-border Ebola case linked to the Democratic Republic of Congo's outbreak, reports STAT.
The infection occurred in a 5-year-old Congolese boy who crossed into Uganda on June 9 with his family near the city of Butembo, a current outbreak hotspot. The boy tested positive for Ebola at a treatment center Uganda set up as a precautionary measure in case Ebola spread across Congo's border. The country has also vaccinated nearly 5,000 health workers at 165 facilities near the border.
STAT noted the new Ebola case may put more pressure on the World Health Organization to declare the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. A WHO committee has twice convened and decided against making such a declaration, citing the outbreak's containment in the Congo.
As of June 9, the WHO has reported 2,062 confirmed and probable Ebola cases linked to the outbreak, which started in August 2018.
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