International media outlets report that an Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has claimed the lives of 80 people.
It is further reported that hundreds of suspected cases have been recorded so far, while a significant number of patients have been transferred to healthcare facilities for treatment and close monitoring.
The World Health Organization, in coordination with African health authorities, reports that no specific vaccine is currently available for this virus, which is also associated with a high fatality rate.
Health officials have warned that, without urgent and effective intervention, the virus could spread rapidly to other regions.