Disease

Bird Flu Outbreak in China - Update

The incidence of new infections seems to be decreasing. The National Health and Family Planning Commission, China notified WHO of one additional laboratory confirmed case of human infection with Avian Influenza A(H7N9) virus.

Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Six suspected cases of Ebola have been reported in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, just six months after an outbreak of the deadly virus ended in the area, the United Nations said Wednesday.

To date, no treatment or vaccine is available for Ebola, which kills between 25 and 90 percent of those who fall sick, depending on the strain of the virus.

The disease is transmitted by direct contact with blood, faeces or sweat, or by sexual contact or unprotected handling of contaminated corpses.

Ebola, one of the world's most virulent diseases, was first discovered in the DRC in 1976, and the country has had eight outbreaks.

The most recent epidemic, in the same region, infected 62 people and left 34 dead between May and November last year.