This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

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The United Nations Ebola Emergency Response Coordinator confirmed on Thursday that the African country's border with Rwanda is now open. Watch this video to know more.

Ebola crisis: Rwanda-Congo border now open

Rwanda's border with Ebola-hit Democratic Republic of Congo was fully open late on Thursday, a minister said, hours after Congolese traders had reported it shut following a third case of the disease in the Congolese border city of Goma.

Rwandan health minister Diane Gashumba said there had been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rwanda-shuts-border-with-ebola-hit-drc-congolese-presidency-239930">traffic slowdowns at the border</a>, caused by increased health screening in response to confirmation of new infections in Goma, a transit hub of at least 1 million people.

"The border was never closed and it is not closed," Gashumba told reporters.

The outbreak has killed more than 1,800 people in Congo since it was declared one year ago and become the second-worst on record. Two people have died of the disease in Uganda, which also borders Congo, but there have been no registered cases in Rwanda.

Earlier, Congolese health authorities confirmed that a third case had been diagnosed in Goma, increasing fears the virus could take root in the densely populated city, which lies more than 350 km south of where the outbreak was first detected.

A second patient died in Goma on Wednesday after he sought treatment too late and was already bleeding, authorities said. These second and third cases in Goma, a father and daughter, are not linked to the first case, authorities say.

Nestled in hilly country at the foot of an active volcano, the city lies just 7 km from Rwanda's main border town of Gisenyi.

Some 45,000 people go through the main border post between the two per day, according to an immigration official.

Lucien Kalusha, a Congolese hairdresser who crosses every day to work in Rwanda, told Reuters earlier on Thursday he and others had not been able to cross.

"By closing the border like this, they deprive a lot of people of their earnings today. Most of the women here cross into Rwanda to find food for us in Goma," he said.

Another, smaller border post near Goma was unusually quiet, as traders and vehicles had left after it appeared to have been closed.

After the first Ebola case in Goma was confirmed in mid-July, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak an international health emergency. It was earlier reluctant to do so, partly out of fear countries bordering Congo might shut their frontiers.

Rwanda's border with Ebola-hit Democratic Republic of Congo was fully open late on Thursday, a minister said, hours after Congolese traders had reported it shut following a third case of the disease in the Congolese border city of Goma.

Rwanda's border with Ebola-hit Democratic Republic of Congo was fully open late on Thursday, a minister said, hours after Congolese traders had reported it shut following a third case of the disease in the Congolese border city of Goma. Rwandan health minister Diane Gashumba said there had been traffic slowdowns at the border, caused by increased health screening in response to confirmation of new infections in Goma, a transit hub of at least 1 million people. "The border was never closed and it is not closed," Gashumba told reporters. The outbreak has killed more than 1,800 people in Congo since it was declared one year ago and become the second-worst on record. Two people have died of the disease in Uganda, which also borders Congo, but there have been no registered cases in Rwanda. Earlier, Congolese health authorities confirmed that a third case had been diagnosed in Goma, increasing fears the virus could take root in the densely populated city, which lies more than 350 km south of where the outbreak was first detected. A second patient died in Goma on Wednesday after he sought treatment too late and was already bleeding, authorities said. These second and third cases in Goma, a father and daughter, are not linked to the first case, authorities say. Nestled in hilly country at the foot of an active volcano, the city lies just 7 km from Rwanda's main border town of Gisenyi. Some 45,000 people go through the main border post between the two per day, according to an immigration official. Lucien Kalusha, a Congolese hairdresser who crosses every day to work in Rwanda, told Reuters earlier on Thursday he and others had not been able to cross. "By closing the border like this, they deprive a lot of people of their earnings today. Most of the women here cross into Rwanda to find food for us in Goma," he said. Another, smaller border post near Goma was unusually quiet, as traders and vehicles had left after it appeared to have been closed. After the first Ebola case in Goma was confirmed in mid-July, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak an international health emergency. It was earlier reluctant to do so, partly out of fear countries bordering Congo might shut their frontiers.

Rwanda reopens border with Ebola-hit Congo after traffic slowdowns

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - August 2nd, 2019

Third Ebola case has been detected in DR Congo's Goma within a month. Watch full video to know more.

WION Dispatch: Panic grips Congo as third Ebola case detected

Rwanda has shut its frontier with the Ebola-hit Democratic Republic of Congo after a third case of the deadly virus was detected in the border city of Goma, the Congolese presidency said Thursday.

In a statement, it said there had been a "unilateral decision by the Rwandan authorities" that affected citizens from both countries who had to cross the border as part of their daily life.

Goma, a city of two million people and a major transport hub, shares the border with the Rwandan city of Gisenyi, which has a population of more than 85,000.

Cross-frontier links are intense. Many people have jobs on the other side of the border while others have homes or put their children in schools in the neighbouring city.

"On the basis of a unilateral decision by the Rwandan authorities, Rwandan citizens cannot go to Goma and Congolese cannot leave Gisenyi but are prevented from going home," the statement said.

"This decision harms a number of Congolese and expatriates who live in Gisenyi but work in Goma."

The announcement came just hours after the third case of Ebola was recorded in Goma, widening the scope of the epidemic on its first anniversary.

Since August 1 2018, 1,803 lives have been lost in the second-worst outbreak of Ebola on record, according to figures released Wednesday.&nbsp;

Two of the three cases in Goma have died, sparking a race to find people who have had contact with these patients.

Health experts fear outbreaks of contagious diseases in major cities.

In an urban setting, the density of population, anonymity and high mobility make it far harder to isolate patients and trace contacts compared to the countryside.

Rwanda has shut its frontier with the Ebola-hit Democratic Republic of Congo after a third case of the deadly virus was detected in the border city of Goma, the Congolese presidency said Thursday.

Rwanda has shut its frontier with the Ebola-hit Democratic Republic of Congo after a third case of the deadly virus was detected in the border city of Goma, the Congolese presidency said Thursday. In a statement, it said there had been a "unilateral decision by the Rwandan authorities" that affected citizens from both countries who had to cross the border as part of their daily life. Goma, a city of two million people and a major transport hub, shares the border with the Rwandan city of Gisenyi, which has a population of more than 85,000. Cross-frontier links are intense. Many people have jobs on the other side of the border while others have homes or put their children in schools in the neighbouring city. "On the basis of a unilateral decision by the Rwandan authorities, Rwandan citizens cannot go to Goma and Congolese cannot leave Gisenyi but are prevented from going home," the statement said. "This decision harms a number of Congolese and expatriates who live in Gisenyi but work in Goma." The announcement came just hours after the third case of Ebola was recorded in Goma, widening the scope of the epidemic on its first anniversary. Since August 1 2018, 1,803 lives have been lost in the second-worst outbreak of Ebola on record, according to figures released Wednesday. Two of the three cases in Goma have died, sparking a race to find people who have had contact with these patients. Health experts fear outbreaks of contagious diseases in major cities. In an urban setting, the density of population, anonymity and high mobility make it far harder to isolate patients and trace contacts compared to the countryside.

Rwanda seals Congo border after third Ebola case in Goma

Congo has detected a second Ebola case detected in less than a month. The second Ebola case has been detected in the border city of Goma. Watch this video to know more.

Congo: Second Ebola case detected in a month

The second case of Ebola was detected in the eastern <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-ebola-patient-in-eastern-congos-main-city-dies-236497">Congolese city of Goma</a> on Tuesday, the Provincial Minister of North Kivu, Valerien Mbalikwirand, said.

The case increases concern the virus could establish a foothold in the densely populated area close to the Rwandan border.

Goma's first Ebola case was detected in mid-July, prompting the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-health-organization-says-e-cigarettes-undoubtedly-harmful-238779">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) to warn that the spread of the disease could accelerate. The epidemic has killed more than 1,700 people since it was declared almost a year ago, becoming the second-worst outbreak on record.

The latest person with the disease started developing symptoms on July 22, after arriving from a mining area outside the city, a health official said.

Health officials believe the patient, a man, is not connected to the first case in Goma.

The epidemiologist in charge of the Ebola response team, Jean Jacques Muyembe, said response teams began de-contaminating the areas where the patient had passed through and that vaccinations would start tomorrow.

"We already have response teams in the field to, first of all, disinfect the victims home and also the health centre through which he passed. We have already established a list of high-risk contacts and as early as tomorrow we will start to compile a list of contacts, and as early as tomorrow these contacts will be vaccinated with the vaccine we have here," Muyembe said.

He said, unlike the first case, the latest patient will be able to receive appropriate treatment in Goma as a facility has been opened in the city, which is more than 350 kilometres (220 miles) south of where the outbreak was first detected.

Goma has been preparing for Ebola to arrive in the city for a year, setting up hand-washing stations and making sure moto-taxi drivers do not share helmets. 
&nbsp;

The second case of Ebola was detected in the eastern Congolese city of Goma on Tuesday, the Provincial Minister of North Kivu, Valerien Mbalikwirand, said. The case increases concern the virus could establish a foothold in the densely populated area close to the Rwandan border.

The second case of Ebola was detected in the eastern Congolese city of Goma on Tuesday, the Provincial Minister of North Kivu, Valerien Mbalikwirand, said. The case increases concern the virus could establish a foothold in the densely populated area close to the Rwandan border. Goma's first Ebola case was detected in mid-July, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to warn that the spread of the disease could accelerate. The epidemic has killed more than 1,700 people since it was declared almost a year ago, becoming the second-worst outbreak on record. The latest person with the disease started developing symptoms on July 22, after arriving from a mining area outside the city, a health official said. Health officials believe the patient, a man, is not connected to the first case in Goma. The epidemiologist in charge of the Ebola response team, Jean Jacques Muyembe, said response teams began de-contaminating the areas where the patient had passed through and that vaccinations would start tomorrow. "We already have response teams in the field to, first of all, disinfect the victims home and also the health centre through which he passed. We have already established a list of high-risk contacts and as early as tomorrow we will start to compile a list of contacts, and as early as tomorrow these contacts will be vaccinated with the vaccine we have here," Muyembe said. He said, unlike the first case, the latest patient will be able to receive appropriate treatment in Goma as a facility has been opened in the city, which is more than 350 kilometres (220 miles) south of where the outbreak was first detected. Goma has been preparing for Ebola to arrive in the city for a year, setting up hand-washing stations and making sure moto-taxi drivers do not share helmets.

Second Ebola case detected in eastern Congo's main city

The deadly Ebola outbreak in Congo has now been declared an international emergency, with more than 1,600 people having died in what has become the second-worst outbreak in history.

Doctor who survived Ebola in DR Congo to help

A Congolese woman who may have spread the deadly <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/who-declares-ebola-outbreak-is-international-health-emergency-but-not-global-threat-236767&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwilocmK_8DjAhWK63MBHc44BcIQFjAAegQIAxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw36jBRmQSlTHNt370njuF1s">Ebola virus</a> in Uganda did not go to Rwanda or the Congolese city of Goma while contagious, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

On Thursday, a report written by Uganda's Health Ministry and published by the WHO's Africa office had said the woman, a fishmonger, was suspected of going to Goma and Rwanda as well as Uganda before she died.

That raised fears of the outbreak spreading in Rwanda, which has never had a recorded case of Ebola.

But the WHO later withdrew the report and shut down the website where the daily updates were being posted, saying some of the information had not been verified.

"We have investigated fully, and there was no travel to anywhere but Uganda," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said, adding that inaccurate conjecture had unfortunately found its way into the reports.

Health workers have mounted a massive campaign of vigilance and vaccination on key routes and borders in the region, and have screened almost 75 million people since the outbreak was declared 11 months ago. It has killed more than 1,700 people.

The 22-year-old woman was thought to have crossed the border between Uganda and Congo at an unmonitored crossing point, the deleted reports said. Harris said there no chance she had also slipped into Rwanda without being spotted.

"We are absolutely certain," she said. "Our team... went across and talked to everybody and tracked it day-by-day. Now in her life, she may have gone to Rwanda... but the important thing is she did not spend any time in Rwanda while symptomatic."

It was extraordinary that a woman with end-stage Ebola had managed to cross the border and sell fish for a day, she added.

A lot of people at potential risk were now being followed up and people were being vaccinated on both sides of the border, Harris said. But it would take several days before it became clear if the woman, who vomited several times at a market, had infected anyone.

Other details in the withdrawn reports were also unverified, including information about a second Congolese Ebola patient travelling to the same market, and about a group of Ugandan health workers who may have been exposed to Ebola.

A Congolese woman who may have spread the deadly Ebola virus in Uganda did not go to Rwanda or the Congolese city of Goma while contagious, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

A Congolese woman who may have spread the deadly Ebola virus in Uganda did not go to Rwanda or the Congolese city of Goma while contagious, the World Health Organization said on Friday. On Thursday, a report written by Uganda's Health Ministry and published by the WHO's Africa office had said the woman, a fishmonger, was suspected of going to Goma and Rwanda as well as Uganda before she died. That raised fears of the outbreak spreading in Rwanda, which has never had a recorded case of Ebola. But the WHO later withdrew the report and shut down the website where the daily updates were being posted, saying some of the information had not been verified. "We have investigated fully, and there was no travel to anywhere but Uganda," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said, adding that inaccurate conjecture had unfortunately found its way into the reports. Health workers have mounted a massive campaign of vigilance and vaccination on key routes and borders in the region, and have screened almost 75 million people since the outbreak was declared 11 months ago. It has killed more than 1,700 people. The 22-year-old woman was thought to have crossed the border between Uganda and Congo at an unmonitored crossing point, the deleted reports said. Harris said there no chance she had also slipped into Rwanda without being spotted. "We are absolutely certain," she said. "Our team... went across and talked to everybody and tracked it day-by-day. Now in her life, she may have gone to Rwanda... but the important thing is she did not spend any time in Rwanda while symptomatic." It was extraordinary that a woman with end-stage Ebola had managed to cross the border and sell fish for a day, she added. A lot of people at potential risk were now being followed up and people were being vaccinated on both sides of the border, Harris said. But it would take several days before it became clear if the woman, who vomited several times at a market, had infected anyone. Other details in the withdrawn reports were also unverified, including information about a second Congolese Ebola patient travelling to the same market, and about a group of Ugandan health workers who may have been exposed to Ebola.

Investigators conclude Ebola victim did not enter Rwanda: World Health Organisation

The World Health Organization has declared <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-declares-ebola-outbreak-is-international-health-emergency-but-not-global-threat-236767">Congo's Ebola outbreak an international health emergency</a>, after the virus threatened to spread to a major city and into neighbouring countries.

The response has been hampered by frequent militia violence and low public trust. Below is a timeline of the latest Ebola epidemic.

August 1 2018:

Congo health ministry declares four cases in the eastern town of Mangina, 100 km from the Ugandan border in a province beset by militia violence. It marks the start of Congo's 10th Ebola outbreak since 1976.

The announcement comes eight days after another Ebola outbreak in western Congo was successfully contained with the use of an experimental new vaccine from Merck.

WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says he is confident in Congo's ability to contain the virus. WHO sends staff and supplies.

August 2 2018:

The WHO says the virus is likely spread over tens of kilometres and poses a high regional risk given its proximity to borders.

Health officials in Mangina rush to educate the public about the risks of Ebola and how to stop its spread.

Ebola identified as the deadliest Zaire strain, for which however an experimental vaccine exists.

August 4 2018:

Congo health ministry says outbreak has likely killed 33 people. Suspected cases are detected in North Kivu province, where Mangina is located, and neighbouring Ituri province.

August 8 2018:

Congo and WHO begin vaccinating health workers. 43 people are believed to have been infected including 36 who have died. 900 contacts are identified for monitoring.

August 17 2018:

Militia violence prevents aid workers from reaching some potential cases. Over 2,000 people have been potentially exposed to the virus.

September 5, 2018:

First Ebola death recorded in trading hub of Butembo, a city of almost a million with links to Uganda. Death toll hits 85.

September 25:

The WHO says it is "extremely concerned" about the outbreak as the death toll reaches 100, two days after militias kill 12 civilians in the town of Beni, near the outbreak's epicentre.

October 17, 2018:

WHO emergency committee falls short of declaring a public health emergency of international concern, but warns it will worsen unless the response is stepped up. Death toll hits 139.

November&nbsp;2 2018:

Uganda starts vaccinating health workers.

November 29, 2018:

Outbreak becomes the second biggest ever, with 426 cases and 245 deaths, the health ministry says. The West Africa outbreak in 2013-16 killed over 11,000 people.

February 24-27, 2019:

Two MSF Ebola treatment centres are attacked by armed assailants and set on fire.

March 25, 2019:

Ebola cases hit 1,000, five days after the virus is detected in Bunia, a city with close to 1 million people.

April 12, 2019:

WHO says the outbreak still does not constitute an international emergency.

May 3, 2019:

The death toll rises above 1,000. Attacks on treatment centres by armed groups continue.

May 28, 2019:

A mob in Vusahiro village kill an Ebola health worker and loot a clinic. WHO says between Jan and early May, there were 42 attacks on health facilities, with 85 workers either injured or killed.

June 4, 2019:

Ebola cases top 2,000 as the rate of new cases triples.

June 11-12, 2019:

Uganda confirms its first case, a 5-year-old Congolese child who dies the next day. A day later, two new cases are reported.

July 14, 2019:

First case detected in Goma, with a population of more than one million. The patient, a priest, is pronounced dead by authorities two days later.

July 17, 2019:

WHO declares outbreak an international health emergency.

The World Health Organization has declared Congo's Ebola outbreak an international health emergency, after the virus threatened to spread to a major city and into neighbouring countries.

The World Health Organization has declared Congo's Ebola outbreak an international health emergency, after the virus threatened to spread to a major city and into neighbouring countries. The response has been hampered by frequent militia violence and low public trust. Below is a timeline of the latest Ebola epidemic. August 1 2018: Congo health ministry declares four cases in the eastern town of Mangina, 100 km from the Ugandan border in a province beset by militia violence. It marks the start of Congo's 10th Ebola outbreak since 1976. The announcement comes eight days after another Ebola outbreak in western Congo was successfully contained with the use of an experimental new vaccine from Merck. WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says he is confident in Congo's ability to contain the virus. WHO sends staff and supplies. August 2 2018: The WHO says the virus is likely spread over tens of kilometres and poses a high regional risk given its proximity to borders. Health officials in Mangina rush to educate the public about the risks of Ebola and how to stop its spread. Ebola identified as the deadliest Zaire strain, for which however an experimental vaccine exists. August 4 2018: Congo health ministry says outbreak has likely killed 33 people. Suspected cases are detected in North Kivu province, where Mangina is located, and neighbouring Ituri province. August 8 2018: Congo and WHO begin vaccinating health workers. 43 people are believed to have been infected including 36 who have died. 900 contacts are identified for monitoring. August 17 2018: Militia violence prevents aid workers from reaching some potential cases. Over 2,000 people have been potentially exposed to the virus. September 5, 2018: First Ebola death recorded in trading hub of Butembo, a city of almost a million with links to Uganda. Death toll hits 85. September 25: The WHO says it is "extremely concerned" about the outbreak as the death toll reaches 100, two days after militias kill 12 civilians in the town of Beni, near the outbreak's epicentre. October 17, 2018: WHO emergency committee falls short of declaring a public health emergency of international concern, but warns it will worsen unless the response is stepped up. Death toll hits 139. November 2 2018: Uganda starts vaccinating health workers. November 29, 2018: Outbreak becomes the second biggest ever, with 426 cases and 245 deaths, the health ministry says. The West Africa outbreak in 2013-16 killed over 11,000 people. February 24-27, 2019: Two MSF Ebola treatment centres are attacked by armed assailants and set on fire. March 25, 2019: Ebola cases hit 1,000, five days after the virus is detected in Bunia, a city with close to 1 million people. April 12, 2019: WHO says the outbreak still does not constitute an international emergency. May 3, 2019: The death toll rises above 1,000. Attacks on treatment centres by armed groups continue. May 28, 2019: A mob in Vusahiro village kill an Ebola health worker and loot a clinic. WHO says between Jan and early May, there were 42 attacks on health facilities, with 85 workers either injured or killed. June 4, 2019: Ebola cases top 2,000 as the rate of new cases triples. June 11-12, 2019: Uganda confirms its first case, a 5-year-old Congolese child who dies the next day. A day later, two new cases are reported. July 14, 2019: First case detected in Goma, with a population of more than one million. The patient, a priest, is pronounced dead by authorities two days later. July 17, 2019: WHO declares outbreak an international health emergency.

Timeline: How a Congo Ebola outbreak became a global concern

The World Health Organization reported a new incidence of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/first-ebola-patient-in-eastern-congos-main-city-dies-236497&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiY2qrd-bvjAhU463MBHbv0AiMQFjABegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1LZU9STBUo4EzS2VTy-J6B">Ebola</a> in Uganda on Wednesday, fuelling concerns that the virus may be spreading beyond Democratic Republic of Congo, as an expert panel weighs whether to sound the alarm internationally.

The WHO said a Congolese fisherwoman travelled across the border to sell fish at Mpondwe market on July 11, where she had four vomiting incidents before returning to Congo and dying of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/first-ebola-patient-in-eastern-congos-main-city-dies-236497&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiY2qrd-bvjAhU463MBHbv0AiMQFjABegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1LZU9STBUo4EzS2VTy-J6B">Ebola</a>.

Ebola is highly infectious and spread through bodily fluids. The current outbreak, largely confined to Congo apart from three deaths in Uganda last month, has killed 1,676 people - more than two-thirds of those who contracted it - over the past year.

The health response relies on tracking down people who may have been exposed to the virus and vaccinating them and anybody they have had contact with.

The WHO report said 19 other fishmongers were listed as possible contacts in the Uganda incident. It said 44 currency exchange workers had volunteered to be vaccinated, while another 590 fishmongers could be targeted for vaccination.

Local leaders were very cooperative, but none of the market traders were willing to provide further information for fear of losing business, given that it was a market day, the WHO added.

WATCH : Ebola Virus reaches Goma in Dr Congo

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Health workers had not established where the fishmonger spent nights, how she travelled or who transported her merchandise, or who cleaned up her vomit.

News of the incident came as the WHO's emergency committee of international experts met for a fourth time to decide if the 11-month outbreak constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern" (PHEIC).

Such a designation would include recommendations for international action and could help unlock funds, which the WHO has said are sorely needed.

It would be only the fifth such designation, after the 2013-2016 West African Ebola epidemic that killed over 11,300 people, the 2009 flu pandemic, polio in 2014 and the Zika virus that caused a spate of birth defects across Latin America.

Last month the committee decided against declaring a PHEIC because the potential disruption risked causing economic harm while achieving nothing.

But WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this week that a case of the highly infectious disease in Goma was a potential gamechanger since Ebola could spread among the urban population for the first time and into neighbouring Rwanda.

A separate WHO report said there was also very high risk in the Arua district of Uganda, which borders a Congolese area where an Ebola patient died after having had contact with over 200 people. Two deaths in Arua were under investigation.

The World Health Organization reported a new incidence of Ebola in Uganda on Wednesday, fuelling concerns that the virus may be spreading beyond Democratic Republic of Congo, as an expert panel weighs whether to sound the alarm internationally.

The World Health Organization reported a new incidence of Ebola in Uganda on Wednesday, fuelling concerns that the virus may be spreading beyond Democratic Republic of Congo, as an expert panel weighs whether to sound the alarm internationally. The WHO said a Congolese fisherwoman travelled across the border to sell fish at Mpondwe market on July 11, where she had four vomiting incidents before returning to Congo and dying of Ebola. Ebola is highly infectious and spread through bodily fluids. The current outbreak, largely confined to Congo apart from three deaths in Uganda last month, has killed 1,676 people - more than two-thirds of those who contracted it - over the past year. The health response relies on tracking down people who may have been exposed to the virus and vaccinating them and anybody they have had contact with. The WHO report said 19 other fishmongers were listed as possible contacts in the Uganda incident. It said 44 currency exchange workers had volunteered to be vaccinated, while another 590 fishmongers could be targeted for vaccination. Local leaders were very cooperative, but none of the market traders were willing to provide further information for fear of losing business, given that it was a market day, the WHO added. WATCH : Ebola Virus reaches Goma in Dr Congo × Health workers had not established where the fishmonger spent nights, how she travelled or who transported her merchandise, or who cleaned up her vomit. News of the incident came as the WHO's emergency committee of international experts met for a fourth time to decide if the 11-month outbreak constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern" (PHEIC). Such a designation would include recommendations for international action and could help unlock funds, which the WHO has said are sorely needed. It would be only the fifth such designation, after the 2013-2016 West African Ebola epidemic that killed over 11,300 people, the 2009 flu pandemic, polio in 2014 and the Zika virus that caused a spate of birth defects across Latin America. Last month the committee decided against declaring a PHEIC because the potential disruption risked causing economic harm while achieving nothing. But WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this week that a case of the highly infectious disease in Goma was a potential gamechanger since Ebola could spread among the urban population for the first time and into neighbouring Rwanda. A separate WHO report said there was also very high risk in the Arua district of Uganda, which borders a Congolese area where an Ebola patient died after having had contact with over 200 people. Two deaths in Arua were under investigation.

World Health Organisation reports new Ebola incident in Uganda amid fears of virus spreading

Violence against ebola health workers in Dr Congo

Wion Playlist: Ebola Virus reaches Goma in Dr Congo

The first Ebola patient in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's largest city, Goma, has died, the government said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The spread of the virus to Goma, a city of roughly 1 million people on the border with Rwanda, has raised fears the outbreak, which is already the second deadliest Ebola epidemic ever, could spread more widely.&nbsp;

The patient was a priest who became infected during a visit to the town of Butembo, one of the epicenters of the outbreak, before taking a bus to Goma, according to Congo`s health ministry.

He was being driven from Goma to a clinic in Butembo on Monday to receive treatment when he died, North Kivu province`s Governor Carly Nzanzu told an Ebola response meeting.&nbsp;

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that health officials had identified 60 people who had come into contact with the pastor since he was taken ill and that half of them had been vaccinated.&nbsp;

Goma, a lakeside city more than 350 kilometers (220 miles) south of where Ebola was first detected a year ago, is the largest city to be affected by the outbreak, which has infected more than 2,500 people and killed nearly 1,700.

Three Ebola cases that originated in Congo were confirmed in neighboring Uganda a month ago, but no new cases have since been registered in that country.&nbsp;

The first Ebola patient in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's largest city, Goma, has died, the government said on Tuesday. The spread of the virus to Goma, a city of roughly 1 million people on the border with Rwanda, has raised fears the outbreak, which is already the second deadliest Ebola epidemic ever, could spread more widely.

The first Ebola patient in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's largest city, Goma, has died, the government said on Tuesday. The spread of the virus to Goma, a city of roughly 1 million people on the border with Rwanda, has raised fears the outbreak, which is already the second deadliest Ebola epidemic ever, could spread more widely. The patient was a priest who became infected during a visit to the town of Butembo, one of the epicenters of the outbreak, before taking a bus to Goma, according to Congo`s health ministry. He was being driven from Goma to a clinic in Butembo on Monday to receive treatment when he died, North Kivu province`s Governor Carly Nzanzu told an Ebola response meeting. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that health officials had identified 60 people who had come into contact with the pastor since he was taken ill and that half of them had been vaccinated. Goma, a lakeside city more than 350 kilometers (220 miles) south of where Ebola was first detected a year ago, is the largest city to be affected by the outbreak, which has infected more than 2,500 people and killed nearly 1,700. Three Ebola cases that originated in Congo were confirmed in neighboring Uganda a month ago, but no new cases have since been registered in that country.

First Ebola patient in eastern Congo's main city dies

The first Ebola patient in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's largest city, Goma, has died, the government said on Tuesday.

The spread of the virus to Goma, a city of roughly 1 million people on the border with Rwanda, has raised fears the outbreak, which is already the second deadliest Ebola epidemic ever, could spread more widely.

The patient was a priest who became infected during a visit to the town of Butembo, one of the epicentres of the outbreak, before taking a bus to Goma, according to Congo's health ministry.

He was being driven from Goma to a clinic in Butembo on Monday to receive treatment when he died, North Kivu province's Governor Carly Nzanzu told an Ebola response meeting.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that health officials had identified 60 people who had come into contact with the pastor since he was taken ill and that half of them had been vaccinated.

Goma, a lakeside city more than 350 kilometres (220 miles) south of where Ebola was first detected a year ago, is the largest city to be affected by the outbreak, which has infected more than 2,500 people and killed nearly 1,700.

Three Ebola cases which originated in Congo were confirmed in neighbouring Uganda a month ago, but no new cases have since been registered in that country.

The first Ebola patient in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's largest city, Goma, has died, the government said on Tuesday. The spread of the virus to Goma, a city of roughly 1 million people on the border with Rwanda, has raised fears the outbreak, which is already the second deadliest Ebola epidemic ever, could spread more widely. The patient was a priest who became infected during a visit to the town of Butembo, one of the epicentres of the outbreak, before taking a bus to Goma, according to Congo's health ministry. He was being driven from Goma to a clinic in Butembo on Monday to receive treatment when he died, North Kivu province's Governor Carly Nzanzu told an Ebola response meeting. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that health officials had identified 60 people who had come into contact with the pastor since he was taken ill and that half of them had been vaccinated. Goma, a lakeside city more than 350 kilometres (220 miles) south of where Ebola was first detected a year ago, is the largest city to be affected by the outbreak, which has infected more than 2,500 people and killed nearly 1,700. Three Ebola cases which originated in Congo were confirmed in neighbouring Uganda a month ago, but no new cases have since been registered in that country.

The first case of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ebola-death-toll-has-crossed-1500-in-dr-congo-health-ministry-230063">Ebola in the eastern Congo city of Goma</a> was discovered on Sunday, officials said, raising concerns the virus could spread quicker in a densely populated area close to the Rwandan border.&nbsp;

Goma, a lakeside city of 1 million people, is more than 350 km (220 miles) south of where the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record was first detected a year ago. But the haemorrhagic fever has gradually spread south, infecting nearly 2,500 people and killing more than 1,600.

The patient was a priest who became infected during a visit to the town of Butembo, 200 km (124 miles) north of Goma, where he interacted with Ebola patients, Congo's health ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;

He developed symptoms last week before taking a bus to Goma on Friday. When he arrived in Goma on Sunday he went to a clinic where he tested positive for Ebola.&nbsp;

"Due to the speed with which the patient has been identified and isolated, as well as the identification of all bus passengers from Butembo, the risk of spreading to the rest of the city of Goma remains low," the ministry said.&nbsp;

Goma has been preparing for the arrival of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-panel-decides-not-to-declare-international-ebola-emergency-227302">Ebola</a> for a year, setting up hand-washing stations and making sure moto-taxi drivers do not share helmets.&nbsp;

But in more rural areas, the virus has been hard to contain. Local mistrust of health officials and militia violence have hobbled containment efforts and caused the number of new cases to spike.

Ebola causes diarrhoea, vomiting and hemorrhagic fever and can be spread through bodily fluids. An epidemic between 2013 and 2016 killed more than 11,300 people in West Africa.&nbsp;

The first case of Ebola in the eastern Congo city of Goma was discovered on Sunday, officials said, raising concerns the virus could spread quicker in a densely populated area close to the Rwandan border.

The first case of Ebola in the eastern Congo city of Goma was discovered on Sunday, officials said, raising concerns the virus could spread quicker in a densely populated area close to the Rwandan border. Goma, a lakeside city of 1 million people, is more than 350 km (220 miles) south of where the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record was first detected a year ago. But the haemorrhagic fever has gradually spread south, infecting nearly 2,500 people and killing more than 1,600. The patient was a priest who became infected during a visit to the town of Butembo, 200 km (124 miles) north of Goma, where he interacted with Ebola patients, Congo's health ministry said in a statement. He developed symptoms last week before taking a bus to Goma on Friday. When he arrived in Goma on Sunday he went to a clinic where he tested positive for Ebola. "Due to the speed with which the patient has been identified and isolated, as well as the identification of all bus passengers from Butembo, the risk of spreading to the rest of the city of Goma remains low," the ministry said. Goma has been preparing for the arrival of Ebola for a year, setting up hand-washing stations and making sure moto-taxi drivers do not share helmets. But in more rural areas, the virus has been hard to contain. Local mistrust of health officials and militia violence have hobbled containment efforts and caused the number of new cases to spike. Ebola causes diarrhoea, vomiting and hemorrhagic fever and can be spread through bodily fluids. An epidemic between 2013 and 2016 killed more than 11,300 people in West Africa.

First Ebola case in Congo city of Goma detected

A court here on Monday announced 16 years of a prison sentence and penalty worth one million (in Nepali Rupees) for a former <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/jail-term-sought-for-ex-united-nations-official-convicted-of-child-abuse-in-nepal-226347">United Nations official</a> from Canada found guilty of child abuse.

The Kavre District court in its final hearing awarded Peter John Dalglish, 62, with an order to pay compensation of one million to the victims and jail term of 16 years combined.

The single bench, headed by Judge Arjun Adhikari, made the final announcement over the case placing an order to pay five lakhs rupees each victim under cases 295 and 296 (Code to hide the identity of the victims).

The court also awarded Dalgish with jail terms of nine years for case 295 and seven years for case 296.

The Nepal Police have rescued two boys, aged 12 and 14, from his villa in Kavre District in April last year.

The investigation found him guilty of sexually abusing children and charged with being a paedophile.&nbsp;

Dalgish, however, has denied the allegations. Dalgish also helped found the charity named 'Street Kids International' to help the impoverished children.&nbsp;

Dalgish was a former UN humanitarian agency worker for the UN-Habitat in Afghanistan, UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response in Liberia and also in Darfur of Sudan.&nbsp;

Officials concluded that Dalgish used to lure children from a weak economic background with promises of education, jobs and trips, and later sexually abusing them.&nbsp;

A court here on Monday announced 16 years of a prison sentence and penalty worth one million (in Nepali Rupees) for a former United Nations official from Canada found guilty of child abuse.

A court here on Monday announced 16 years of a prison sentence and penalty worth one million (in Nepali Rupees) for a former United Nations official from Canada found guilty of child abuse. The Kavre District court in its final hearing awarded Peter John Dalglish, 62, with an order to pay compensation of one million to the victims and jail term of 16 years combined. The single bench, headed by Judge Arjun Adhikari, made the final announcement over the case placing an order to pay five lakhs rupees each victim under cases 295 and 296 (Code to hide the identity of the victims). The court also awarded Dalgish with jail terms of nine years for case 295 and seven years for case 296. The Nepal Police have rescued two boys, aged 12 and 14, from his villa in Kavre District in April last year. The investigation found him guilty of sexually abusing children and charged with being a paedophile. Dalgish, however, has denied the allegations. Dalgish also helped found the charity named 'Street Kids International' to help the impoverished children. Dalgish was a former UN humanitarian agency worker for the UN-Habitat in Afghanistan, UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response in Liberia and also in Darfur of Sudan. Officials concluded that Dalgish used to lure children from a weak economic background with promises of education, jobs and trips, and later sexually abusing them.

Nepal court announces 16 years jail term, one million penalty for ex-UN worker

More than 1,500 people have died in a nearly 10-month-old <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-300000-flee-congo-violence-complicating-ebola-fight-united-nations-228316">outbreak of Ebola</a> in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the health ministry said Monday.

As of Sunday, 1,506 people have died out of 2,239 recorded cases, it said.

Earlier this month, the virus claimed two lives in neighbouring Uganda among a family who had travelled to the DRC.

Nearly 141,000 people have been vaccinated in the affected eastern DRC provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, the epicentre of the outbreak.

Ebola spreads among humans through close contact with the blood, body fluids, secretions or organs of an infected person, or objects contaminated by such fluids.

The current outbreak in the DRC is the worst on record after an epidemic that struck mainly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone between 2014-2016, killing more than 11,300 people.

Chronic violence and militia activity in Ituri and North Kivu, as well as hostility to medical teams among locals, have hampered the response.&nbsp;

On Monday, a crowd of people opposed to the burial of two Ebola victims in the Beni area burnt the vehicle of a health team, local police chief Colonel Safari Kazingufu told AFP.

He said a member of the medical team had been injured in the attack and taken to hospital.&nbsp;

The United Nations in May nominated an emergency coordinator to deal with the crisis. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) said this month the outbreak currently did not represent a global threat.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

More than 1,500 people have died in a nearly 10-month-old outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the health ministry said Monday. As of Sunday, 1,506 people have died out of 2,239 recorded cases, it said.

More than 1,500 people have died in a nearly 10-month-old outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the health ministry said Monday. As of Sunday, 1,506 people have died out of 2,239 recorded cases, it said. Earlier this month, the virus claimed two lives in neighbouring Uganda among a family who had travelled to the DRC. Nearly 141,000 people have been vaccinated in the affected eastern DRC provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, the epicentre of the outbreak. Ebola spreads among humans through close contact with the blood, body fluids, secretions or organs of an infected person, or objects contaminated by such fluids. The current outbreak in the DRC is the worst on record after an epidemic that struck mainly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone between 2014-2016, killing more than 11,300 people. Chronic violence and militia activity in Ituri and North Kivu, as well as hostility to medical teams among locals, have hampered the response. On Monday, a crowd of people opposed to the burial of two Ebola victims in the Beni area burnt the vehicle of a health team, local police chief Colonel Safari Kazingufu told AFP. He said a member of the medical team had been injured in the attack and taken to hospital. The United Nations in May nominated an emergency coordinator to deal with the crisis. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) said this month the outbreak currently did not represent a global threat.

Ebola death toll has crossed 1,500 in DR Congo: Health ministry

More than 300,000 people have fled inter-ethnic violence in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo since early June, complicating the tracing and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-panel-decides-not-to-declare-international-ebola-emergency-227302">treatment of patients at risk from Ebola</a>, UN aid agencies said on Tuesday.

At least 161 people have been killed in a northeastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past week, local officials said on Monday, in an apparent resurgence of ethnic clashes between farming and herding communities.

"Violence in northeastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo is reported to have displaced more than 300,000 since early June. The situation in Ituri province has deteriorated since the middle of last week, with multiple attacks involving the Hema and Lendu groups," the UN refugee agency spokesman Babar Baloch told a news briefing.

The UNHCR fears that the escalation could engulf large parts of the province, amid reports of killings, kidnappings and sexual violence unleashed against civilians, he said. The government is trying to bring the clashes under control, he added.

As Congolese flee violence at "this massive scale", fears are that more people will try to seek safety in Uganda, crossing Lake Albert, Baloch said.

An Ebola epidemic in Congo, which spread to Uganda last week, has caused 2,168 infections since August, including 1,449 deaths, with Ituri accounting for about 10 per cent of cases and deaths, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said.

"We are always saying the mobility of the population in North Kivu and Ituri is a risk factor," Jasarevic told the briefing.

"So every time you have people moving in high numbers, it is more complicated to do the work of follow-up, contact tracing, follow up on the people who are supposed basically to be observed on a daily basis for 21 days," he said, referring to the disease's incubation period.

More than 300,000 people have fled inter-ethnic violence in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo since early June, complicating the tracing and treatment of patients at risk from Ebola, UN aid agencies said on Tuesday.

More than 300,000 people have fled inter-ethnic violence in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo since early June, complicating the tracing and treatment of patients at risk from Ebola, UN aid agencies said on Tuesday. At least 161 people have been killed in a northeastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past week, local officials said on Monday, in an apparent resurgence of ethnic clashes between farming and herding communities. "Violence in northeastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo is reported to have displaced more than 300,000 since early June. The situation in Ituri province has deteriorated since the middle of last week, with multiple attacks involving the Hema and Lendu groups," the UN refugee agency spokesman Babar Baloch told a news briefing. The UNHCR fears that the escalation could engulf large parts of the province, amid reports of killings, kidnappings and sexual violence unleashed against civilians, he said. The government is trying to bring the clashes under control, he added. As Congolese flee violence at "this massive scale", fears are that more people will try to seek safety in Uganda, crossing Lake Albert, Baloch said. An Ebola epidemic in Congo, which spread to Uganda last week, has caused 2,168 infections since August, including 1,449 deaths, with Ituri accounting for about 10 per cent of cases and deaths, WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said. "We are always saying the mobility of the population in North Kivu and Ituri is a risk factor," Jasarevic told the briefing. "So every time you have people moving in high numbers, it is more complicated to do the work of follow-up, contact tracing, follow up on the people who are supposed basically to be observed on a daily basis for 21 days," he said, referring to the disease's incubation period.

More than 300,000 flee Congo violence, complicating Ebola fight: United Nations

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - June 15th, 2019

A World Health Organization panel decided on Friday not to declare an international emergency over Congo`s Ebola outbreak despite its spread to Uganda this week, concluding such a declaration could cause too much economic harm.

Congo`s epidemic is the second worst ever, with 2,108 cases of Ebola and 1,411 deaths since last August. This week it reached Uganda, where three cases were recorded, all in people who had arrived from Congo. Two of them died.

In a statement, the panel of 13 independent medical experts on the WHO`s Emergency Committee urged neighbouring "at risk" countries to improve their preparedness for detecting and managing imported cases, "as Uganda has done".

"This is not a global emergency, it is an emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a severe emergency and it may affect neighbouring counties," Dr. Preben Aavitsland, the panel`s acting chair told a news conference at the UN agency`s headquarters in Geneva.

"It was the view of the Committee that there is really nothing to gain by declaring a PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern), but there is potentially a lot to lose."

Such a declaration would risk creating restrictions on travel or trade "that could severely harm the economy in the Democratic Republic of Congo," Aavitsland said.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking by telephone from Kampala, said: "The spread of Ebola to Uganda is a new development but the fundamental dynamics of the outbreak haven`t changed."

Ugandan authorities have now drawn up a list of 98 contacts, or contacts of contacts, potentially exposed to the Ebola virus, of whom 10 are considered "high risk", said Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO`s emergencies programme. Vaccination of those contacts and health workers with a Merck experimental vaccine is to start on Saturday, he said.

Some medical groups had urged the committee to declare an emergency which would have led to boosting public health measures, funding and resources.

Lawrence Gostin, a global health law professor at Georgetown University Law School, voiced disappointment that the panel had failed to declare an emergency for the third time.&nbsp;

"The @WHO was criticized for delay in declaring a PHEIC in W Africa. Will it’s failure in DRC affect legitimacy?" Gostin tweeted. He said he admired the panel members but disagreed with their conclusion.

Only four emergencies have been declared in the past decade, including the worst ever Ebola outbreak, which hit West Africa in 2014-2016. The others were an influenza pandemic in 2009, polio in 2014 and the Zika virus in 2016.

Ryan told Reuters on Friday that there had been no sign of local transmission of Ebola virus in Uganda.

"No evidence yet...But we`re not out of the woods yet," he said, noting that the incubation period is up to 21 days.

A World Health Organization panel decided on Friday not to declare an international emergency over Congo`s Ebola outbreak despite its spread to Uganda this week, concluding such a declaration could cause too much economic harm.

A World Health Organization panel decided on Friday not to declare an international emergency over Congo`s Ebola outbreak despite its spread to Uganda this week, concluding such a declaration could cause too much economic harm. Congo`s epidemic is the second worst ever, with 2,108 cases of Ebola and 1,411 deaths since last August. This week it reached Uganda, where three cases were recorded, all in people who had arrived from Congo. Two of them died. In a statement, the panel of 13 independent medical experts on the WHO`s Emergency Committee urged neighbouring "at risk" countries to improve their preparedness for detecting and managing imported cases, "as Uganda has done". "This is not a global emergency, it is an emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a severe emergency and it may affect neighbouring counties," Dr. Preben Aavitsland, the panel`s acting chair told a news conference at the UN agency`s headquarters in Geneva. "It was the view of the Committee that there is really nothing to gain by declaring a PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern), but there is potentially a lot to lose." Such a declaration would risk creating restrictions on travel or trade "that could severely harm the economy in the Democratic Republic of Congo," Aavitsland said. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking by telephone from Kampala, said: "The spread of Ebola to Uganda is a new development but the fundamental dynamics of the outbreak haven`t changed." Ugandan authorities have now drawn up a list of 98 contacts, or contacts of contacts, potentially exposed to the Ebola virus, of whom 10 are considered "high risk", said Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO`s emergencies programme. Vaccination of those contacts and health workers with a Merck experimental vaccine is to start on Saturday, he said. Some medical groups had urged the committee to declare an emergency which would have led to boosting public health measures, funding and resources. Lawrence Gostin, a global health law professor at Georgetown University Law School, voiced disappointment that the panel had failed to declare an emergency for the third time. "The @WHO was criticized for delay in declaring a PHEIC in W Africa. Will it’s failure in DRC affect legitimacy?" Gostin tweeted. He said he admired the panel members but disagreed with their conclusion. Only four emergencies have been declared in the past decade, including the worst ever Ebola outbreak, which hit West Africa in 2014-2016. The others were an influenza pandemic in 2009, polio in 2014 and the Zika virus in 2016. Ryan told Reuters on Friday that there had been no sign of local transmission of Ebola virus in Uganda. "No evidence yet...But we`re not out of the woods yet," he said, noting that the incubation period is up to 21 days.

WHO panel decides not to declare international Ebola emergency

Three cases of Ebola have emerged in Uganda, a neighbouring country to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), officials said on Wednesday (June 12).

New Ebola cases in Uganda raise fears of further spread

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have declared an epidemic of measles which may have killed 1,500 people, according to statistical analysis.

"We have been seeing an increase in the number of suspected cases of measles since the start of the year, with a total of 87,000 suspected cases" reported by mid-May, Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga said Monday.

"Mortality is estimated at 1.8 per cent," he said.

This rate translates to about 1,500 deaths, the health ministry and aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) estimated.

The minister said medical teams had found cases of measles in 23 out of 26 provinces in the vast central African country.

He announced a renewed, large-scale vaccination programme to try to counter the outbreak.

In April, 2.24 million children aged between six months and 59 months were vaccinated over four days and another immunisation campaign covering 1.4 million children will be launched "in the coming days," Kalenga said.

"Vaccination is the only public health intervention that is capable of putting an end to the measles epidemic," he added in a statement.

"To stop the chain of measles transmission and prevent future epidemics, at least 95 per cent of the population" must be vaccinated, said the minister.

A nation the size of continental western Europe, the DRC is also struggling to contain an outbreak of deadly Ebola disease in two eastern provinces.

A total of 1,384 lives have been lost since August 1, according to an official tally.

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have declared an epidemic of measles which may have killed 1,500 people, according to statistical analysis.

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have declared an epidemic of measles which may have killed 1,500 people, according to statistical analysis. "We have been seeing an increase in the number of suspected cases of measles since the start of the year, with a total of 87,000 suspected cases" reported by mid-May, Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga said Monday. "Mortality is estimated at 1.8 per cent," he said. This rate translates to about 1,500 deaths, the health ministry and aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) estimated. The minister said medical teams had found cases of measles in 23 out of 26 provinces in the vast central African country. He announced a renewed, large-scale vaccination programme to try to counter the outbreak. In April, 2.24 million children aged between six months and 59 months were vaccinated over four days and another immunisation campaign covering 1.4 million children will be launched "in the coming days," Kalenga said. "Vaccination is the only public health intervention that is capable of putting an end to the measles epidemic," he added in a statement. "To stop the chain of measles transmission and prevent future epidemics, at least 95 per cent of the population" must be vaccinated, said the minister. A nation the size of continental western Europe, the DRC is also struggling to contain an outbreak of deadly Ebola disease in two eastern provinces. A total of 1,384 lives have been lost since August 1, according to an official tally.

DR Congo fears 1,500 dead from measles epidemic

More than 1,000 people have now died of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities said, as aid workers warned that the highly contagious virus combined with insecurity in the restive region was creating a "deeply worrying situation".

The current outbreak is the second deadliest on record, after an epidemic killed more than 11,300 people in West Africa in 2014-2016.

Efforts to roll back the outbreak of the haemorrhagic fever have been hampered by fighting but also by resistance within communities to preventative measures, care facilities and safe burials.

"In total, there have been 1,008 deaths (942 confirmed and 66 probable)," the health ministry said in a daily update late Friday.

The central African country declared a 10th outbreak of Ebola in 40 years last August centred in the city of Beni in North Kivu province before the virus spread into the neighbouring Ituri region.

The World Health Organization had initially voiced hope it would be able to contain the outbreak, thanks in part to a new vaccine.

But in recent weeks senior WHO officials have conceded that insecurity, scarce financial resources and local politicians turning people against health workers had seriously undermined the containment effort.

"We are dealing with a difficult and volatile situation," Michael Ryan, the executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, told reporters in Geneva on Friday.

"We are anticipating a scenario of continued, intense transmission," he added.

The long-standing presence of various rebel groups in Ituri and North Kivu has made it difficult for health workers to access those who might have come into contact with Ebola, a figure that currently stands at 12,000 people.&nbsp;

But beyond the militias, communities in the aftermath of DRC's December elections "are being manipulated" against cooperating with Ebola responders, Ryan said.

"Communities... need to be assured that all parties are supporting the public health response and that Ebola should not become further politicised in the process," he added.

Ryan said the UN health agency currently has enough vaccine stocks to meet its needs but doses may run short.

"We don't necessarily know which way this outbreak is going," he said.

More than 110,000 people have been vaccinated since the outbreak began. Neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda have also been vaccinating health workers.

'Deeply worrying'

Humanitarian groups meanwhile warned Friday of health risks faced by tens of thousands of people uprooted by the resurgence of violence in the east of the country.

Among them, some 7,000 displaced people are housed in a primary school where the only water source is a nearby river and there are not enough toilets, 18 non-governmental organisations said in a statement.

In such conditions, the "risk of disease spread is high", they added.

"This is a deeply worrying situation. These people fear going back to their homes and are being forced to live in cramped, unsanitary conditions in an area where Ebola remains a significant threat," said Tamba Emmanuel Danmbi-saa from Oxfam, one of the groups that signed the document.

"These people urgently need food and adequate sanitation facilities as well as clean water and health services."

The groups said violence in the region, with rival rebel groups competing for resources and power, made it very difficult for humanitarian aid to reach those who need it, with some 60,000 people displaced in April alone.

Many of them, added the NGOs, find themselves trapped between the Ugandan border to the east, a region in their own country plagued by violence, and another nearby that is riddled with Ebola.

"As a result, some displaced people are being left with little choice but to return to the villages they fled, where they are at risk of further attacks.

"Others are avoiding official border points and choosing to cross illegally through the forests along the border or by boat across Lake Albert. This also increases the risk of Ebola being spread, since people are not being screened as they would be at the official border crossings."

In the conflict-ridden country as a whole, more than 13 million people need humanitarian aid, the NGOs said.

More than five million have had to flee their homes, and Uganda is already home to more than 1.2 million refugees.

More than 1,000 people have now died of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities said, as aid workers warned that the highly contagious virus combined with insecurity in the restive region was creating a "deeply worrying situation".

More than 1,000 people have now died of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities said, as aid workers warned that the highly contagious virus combined with insecurity in the restive region was creating a "deeply worrying situation". The current outbreak is the second deadliest on record, after an epidemic killed more than 11,300 people in West Africa in 2014-2016. Efforts to roll back the outbreak of the haemorrhagic fever have been hampered by fighting but also by resistance within communities to preventative measures, care facilities and safe burials. "In total, there have been 1,008 deaths (942 confirmed and 66 probable)," the health ministry said in a daily update late Friday. The central African country declared a 10th outbreak of Ebola in 40 years last August centred in the city of Beni in North Kivu province before the virus spread into the neighbouring Ituri region. The World Health Organization had initially voiced hope it would be able to contain the outbreak, thanks in part to a new vaccine. But in recent weeks senior WHO officials have conceded that insecurity, scarce financial resources and local politicians turning people against health workers had seriously undermined the containment effort. "We are dealing with a difficult and volatile situation," Michael Ryan, the executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, told reporters in Geneva on Friday. "We are anticipating a scenario of continued, intense transmission," he added. The long-standing presence of various rebel groups in Ituri and North Kivu has made it difficult for health workers to access those who might have come into contact with Ebola, a figure that currently stands at 12,000 people. But beyond the militias, communities in the aftermath of DRC's December elections "are being manipulated" against cooperating with Ebola responders, Ryan said. "Communities... need to be assured that all parties are supporting the public health response and that Ebola should not become further politicised in the process," he added. Ryan said the UN health agency currently has enough vaccine stocks to meet its needs but doses may run short. "We don't necessarily know which way this outbreak is going," he said. More than 110,000 people have been vaccinated since the outbreak began. Neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda have also been vaccinating health workers. 'Deeply worrying' Humanitarian groups meanwhile warned Friday of health risks faced by tens of thousands of people uprooted by the resurgence of violence in the east of the country. Among them, some 7,000 displaced people are housed in a primary school where the only water source is a nearby river and there are not enough toilets, 18 non-governmental organisations said in a statement. In such conditions, the "risk of disease spread is high", they added. "This is a deeply worrying situation. These people fear going back to their homes and are being forced to live in cramped, unsanitary conditions in an area where Ebola remains a significant threat," said Tamba Emmanuel Danmbi-saa from Oxfam, one of the groups that signed the document. "These people urgently need food and adequate sanitation facilities as well as clean water and health services." The groups said violence in the region, with rival rebel groups competing for resources and power, made it very difficult for humanitarian aid to reach those who need it, with some 60,000 people displaced in April alone. Many of them, added the NGOs, find themselves trapped between the Ugandan border to the east, a region in their own country plagued by violence, and another nearby that is riddled with Ebola. "As a result, some displaced people are being left with little choice but to return to the villages they fled, where they are at risk of further attacks. "Others are avoiding official border points and choosing to cross illegally through the forests along the border or by boat across Lake Albert. This also increases the risk of Ebola being spread, since people are not being screened as they would be at the official border crossings." In the conflict-ridden country as a whole, more than 13 million people need humanitarian aid, the NGOs said. More than five million have had to flee their homes, and Uganda is already home to more than 1.2 million refugees.

More than 1,000 dead in DR Congo Ebola epidemic

The World Health Organization said on Friday (May 3) it feared continued "intense transmission" of Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where deaths from a nine-month-old epidemic stood at 994 and were expected to exceed 1,000 within hours.

Congo Ebola death toll nears 1,000, expected to spread: WHO

Some 100 people have died in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dr-congo-ebola-outbreak-death-toll-rises-to-565-201603">Ebola epidemic in DR Congo</a> over the past three weeks, taking the overall death toll in the latest outbreak past 700, according to health ministry data.

Local people are now at least receiving vaccines on a large scale for the first time with more than 95,000 getting a dose of the rVSV-Zebov vaccine from Merck laboratories.

The health ministry said this had enabled thousands of lives to be saved.

The Democratic Republic of Congo declared its tenth outbreak of Ebola in 40 years last August in northeastern North Kivu province before it spread into the neighbouring Ituri region.

The current outbreak is the second worst to date, the deadliest being a 2014 epidemic in West Africa which killed more than 10,000 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

"Since the start of the epidemic, overall cases are 1,117 -- 1,051 confirmed and 66 probable. In total there are 702 deaths (636 confirmed and 66 probable) and 339 people who have recovered," the ministry said, quoting data up to Thursday.

The ministry added late Friday that another 295 suspected cases were being examined.

The World Health Organization has warned that "the risk of national and regional spread remains very high" and said dealing with the epidemic could take another six months.

Poor security owing to the presence of several armed groups, coupled with resistance of some communities to seeking treatment, has hampered the fight to stem the spread of the disease.

A recent study in the central Congolese cities of Beni and Butembo found only a third trusted local authorities to help them and more than a quarter believed Ebola does not exist.&nbsp;

Some 100 people have died in the Ebola epidemic in DR Congo over the past three weeks, taking the overall death toll in the latest outbreak past 700, according to health ministry data.

Some 100 people have died in the Ebola epidemic in DR Congo over the past three weeks, taking the overall death toll in the latest outbreak past 700, according to health ministry data. Local people are now at least receiving vaccines on a large scale for the first time with more than 95,000 getting a dose of the rVSV-Zebov vaccine from Merck laboratories. The health ministry said this had enabled thousands of lives to be saved. The Democratic Republic of Congo declared its tenth outbreak of Ebola in 40 years last August in northeastern North Kivu province before it spread into the neighbouring Ituri region. The current outbreak is the second worst to date, the deadliest being a 2014 epidemic in West Africa which killed more than 10,000 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. "Since the start of the epidemic, overall cases are 1,117 -- 1,051 confirmed and 66 probable. In total there are 702 deaths (636 confirmed and 66 probable) and 339 people who have recovered," the ministry said, quoting data up to Thursday. The ministry added late Friday that another 295 suspected cases were being examined. The World Health Organization has warned that "the risk of national and regional spread remains very high" and said dealing with the epidemic could take another six months. Poor security owing to the presence of several armed groups, coupled with resistance of some communities to seeking treatment, has hampered the fight to stem the spread of the disease. A recent study in the central Congolese cities of Beni and Butembo found only a third trusted local authorities to help them and more than a quarter believed Ebola does not exist.

Ebola toll tops 700 in DR Congo

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo continued to battle the ongoing <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/who-says-end-of-ebola-outbreak-difficult-to-predict-194843">Ebola outbreak</a> Wednesday after the health ministry announced the virus had caused 565 deaths, in what experts called the worst epidemic in the central African nation's history.

According to the most recent figures published by the health ministry on Tuesday, 500 of the people who died were confirmed cases of the virus.

A total of 900 cases have been registered, 835 of which are confirmed and 65 are probable cases of Ebola.

DRC's health minister, Oly Ilunga Kalenga, on Tuesday held a press conference in the capital and assured people the situation was relatively under control, hoping the epidemic in the towns of Beni, Mandima, and Kalunguta would come to an end within the upcoming weeks.

This Ebola outbreak emerged shortly after DR Congo's government declared an end to another outbreak of the disease in the west of the country in June last year and was first reported on August 1 in the conflict-affected provinces of North Kivu and Ituri.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) had suspended its activities in two Ebola treatment centres at the end of February after armed assailants had attacked an Ebola treatment centre in northeastern DRC.

The attack in the city of Butembo was the second in just over a week as armed men set another treatment centre ablaze in Katwa town, leaving two Ebola patients dead.

“In light of these two violent incidents, we have no choice but to suspend our activities until further notice. As medical responders, it is very painful to have to leave behind patients, their families and other members of the community at such a critical time in the Ebola response,” MSF emergency desk manager, Hugues Robert, said.

On November 30, the World Health Organization confirmed that the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC is the second-worst in history after the 2014-2016 West African Ebola epidemic which resulted in 28,600 cases and 11,325 deaths.

Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people or animals and is widely feared for its mortality rate of up to 90 per cent and for causing heavy internal and external bleeding.

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo continued to battle the ongoing Ebola outbreak Wednesday after the health ministry announced the virus had caused 565 deaths, in what experts called the worst epidemic in the central African nation's history.

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo continued to battle the ongoing Ebola outbreak Wednesday after the health ministry announced the virus had caused 565 deaths, in what experts called the worst epidemic in the central African nation's history. According to the most recent figures published by the health ministry on Tuesday, 500 of the people who died were confirmed cases of the virus. A total of 900 cases have been registered, 835 of which are confirmed and 65 are probable cases of Ebola. DRC's health minister, Oly Ilunga Kalenga, on Tuesday held a press conference in the capital and assured people the situation was relatively under control, hoping the epidemic in the towns of Beni, Mandima, and Kalunguta would come to an end within the upcoming weeks. This Ebola outbreak emerged shortly after DR Congo's government declared an end to another outbreak of the disease in the west of the country in June last year and was first reported on August 1 in the conflict-affected provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) had suspended its activities in two Ebola treatment centres at the end of February after armed assailants had attacked an Ebola treatment centre in northeastern DRC. The attack in the city of Butembo was the second in just over a week as armed men set another treatment centre ablaze in Katwa town, leaving two Ebola patients dead. “In light of these two violent incidents, we have no choice but to suspend our activities until further notice. As medical responders, it is very painful to have to leave behind patients, their families and other members of the community at such a critical time in the Ebola response,” MSF emergency desk manager, Hugues Robert, said. On November 30, the World Health Organization confirmed that the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC is the second-worst in history after the 2014-2016 West African Ebola epidemic which resulted in 28,600 cases and 11,325 deaths. Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people or animals and is widely feared for its mortality rate of up to 90 per cent and for causing heavy internal and external bleeding.

DR Congo Ebola outbreak death toll rises to 565

The end of an Ebola epidemic that has gripped the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for over six months is hard to predict, a World Health Organisation official told EFE on Sunday. 
 
The outbreak became the second-worst ever recorded, with 475 deaths, among them 421 confirmed cases of the virus and 54 probable, according to the latest figures. 
 
WHO regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, told EFE on the phone chains of transmission and a large number of people were being monitored, which could take months. 
 
This Ebola outbreak, which emerged shortly after DR Congo's government declared an end to another outbreak in the west of the country in June last year, was announced on Aug. 1 in the conflict-affected provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. 
 
Since the beginning of the epidemic, 769 cases of the disease have been recorded, 715 of which are confirmed and 54 others considered likely. 
 
The Botswana-born doctor added they were aware that insecurity limited their access, noting the virus might be spreading in areas they had no access to. 
 
In these red zones where health teams' access is extremely difficult, if not impossible, Moeti said the number of people infected can neither be known nor estimated. 
 
The conflict is not static so there are areas that are safe, but then suddenly an incident takes place, and then all health teams are evacuated, Moeti said. 
 
The doctor explained that Ebola was a disease that needed continuous and daily monitoring, and so closing a health center or evacuating medical personnel meant losing track of cases and allowing the virus to continue spreading. 
 
On Nov. 30, the WHO confirmed that the current Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is now the second-worst in history. 
 
The worst case killed over 11,000 people in West Africa between 2014-2016. 
 
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people or animals, and is widely feared for its mortality rate of up to 90 percent and for causing heavy internal and external bleeding.

The end of an Ebola epidemic that has gripped the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for over six months is hard to predict, a World Health Organisation official told EFE on Sunday.

The end of an Ebola epidemic that has gripped the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for over six months is hard to predict, a World Health Organisation official told EFE on Sunday. The outbreak became the second-worst ever recorded, with 475 deaths, among them 421 confirmed cases of the virus and 54 probable, according to the latest figures. WHO regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, told EFE on the phone chains of transmission and a large number of people were being monitored, which could take months. This Ebola outbreak, which emerged shortly after DR Congo's government declared an end to another outbreak in the west of the country in June last year, was announced on Aug. 1 in the conflict-affected provinces of North Kivu and Ituri. Since the beginning of the epidemic, 769 cases of the disease have been recorded, 715 of which are confirmed and 54 others considered likely. The Botswana-born doctor added they were aware that insecurity limited their access, noting the virus might be spreading in areas they had no access to. In these red zones where health teams' access is extremely difficult, if not impossible, Moeti said the number of people infected can neither be known nor estimated. The conflict is not static so there are areas that are safe, but then suddenly an incident takes place, and then all health teams are evacuated, Moeti said. The doctor explained that Ebola was a disease that needed continuous and daily monitoring, and so closing a health center or evacuating medical personnel meant losing track of cases and allowing the virus to continue spreading. On Nov. 30, the WHO confirmed that the current Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is now the second-worst in history. The worst case killed over 11,000 people in West Africa between 2014-2016. Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people or animals, and is widely feared for its mortality rate of up to 90 percent and for causing heavy internal and external bleeding.

WHO says end of Ebola outbreak difficult to predict

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/congo-heads-to-the-polls-for-tense-long-delayed-presidential-vote-187294">Voters in the Democratic Republic of Congo </a>went to the polls on Sunday in elections that will shape the future of their vast, troubled country, amid fears that violence could overshadow the ballot.

Millions of electors are choosing a successor to President Joseph Kabila, who is stepping down two years after his term limit expired — a delay that sparked bloody clashes and revived traumatic memories of past turmoil.

The vote gives DR Congo the chance of its first peaceful transfer of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960.

But analysts say the threat of violence is great, given the many organisational problems and wide-ranging suspicion of Kabila.

The election's credibility has already been strained by repeated delays, the risk of hitches on polling day and accusations that electronic voting machines will produce a rigged result.

On the eve of the vote, talks between key candidates to avert post-election violence broke down.

Opposition frontrunners Martin Fayulu and Felix Tshisekedi refused Saturday to sign a proposed peace pledge, saying election officials had failed to make suggested changes to the text.

The announcement came after the pair had met with the&nbsp; 
Independent National Election Commission (CENI) as well as Kabila's preferred successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary.

The UN, the United States and Europe have loudly appealed for the elections to be free, fair and peaceful — a call echoed on Wednesday by the presidents of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and the neighbouring Republic of Congo.

Polling stations opened in the east of the country a little after their scheduled time of 0400 GMT and an hour later in Kinshasa and the west.

Kabila voted in the capital along with his family, just minutes before Shadary also cast his ballot in the same polling station.

"I feel liberated, freed," said Victor Balibwa, a 53-year-old civil servant and one of the first voters to cast his ballot in Lubumbashi, the country's mining capital in the southeast.

"I'm excited to vote, to be able to choose at last. It's my first election," an 18-year-old student named Rachel told AFP in the eastern city of Goma, an opposition stronghold.

Some polling stations opened late in Goma and elsewhere.

In one, electoral officials were still adjusting voting machines and in another, a technician needed to restart a machine that had broken down, an AFP reporter saw.

The last polls are due to close at 1600 GMT. Provisional results are due on January 6.

Twenty-one candidates are contending the presidential election, which is taking place simultaneously with ballots for the national legislature and municipal bodies.

The frontrunners include Kabila's champion Shadary, a hardline former interior minister facing EU sanctions for a crackdown on protesters.

His biggest rivals are Fayulu, until recently a little-known legislator and former oil executive, and Tshisekedi, head of a veteran opposition party, the UDPS.

If the elections are "free and fair," an opposition candidate will almost certainly win, according to Jason Stearns of the Congo Research Group, based at the Center on International Cooperation at New York University.

Opinion polls indicate Fayulu is a clear favourite, garnering around 44 per cent of voting intentions, followed by 24 per cent for Tshisekedi and 18 per cent for Shadary, he said.

However, "the potential for violence is extremely high," Stearns warned.

Between 43 and 63 per cent of respondents said they would not accept the results if Shadary is declared the winner, he said.

And between 43 per cent and 53 per cent said they did not trust DRC's courts to settle any election dispute fairly. However, Kabila said he was confident "everything will go well on Sunday".

"I want to reassure our people that measures have been taken with the government to guarantee the safety of all sides, candidates, voters and observers alike," he said in his end-of-year address broadcast Saturday.

Eighty times the size of its former colonial master Belgium, the DRC covers 2.3 million square kilometres in the middle of Africa, behind only Algeria in the area on the continent.

Gold, uranium, copper, cobalt and other riches are extracted from its soil, but little of that wealth comes down to the poor.

In the last 22 years, the country has twice been a battleground for wars drawing in armies from around central and southern Africa.

The legacy of that era endures today in the DRC's eastern border region, where ruthless militias have carried out hundreds of killings.

Insecurity and an ongoing Ebola epidemic in part of North Kivu province, and communal violence in Yumbi, in the southwest of the country, prompted the authorities to postpone the elections there until March.

Kabila said the vote would take place "as soon as the situation allows it".

Around 1.25 million people, out of a national electoral roll of 40 million, are affected.

No explanation has been offered as to whether or how the delayed vote will affect the official outcome, and legal experts say the postponement is unconstitutional.&nbsp;

Voters in the Democratic Republic of Congo went to the polls on Sunday in elections that will shape the future of their vast, troubled country, amid fears that violence could overshadow the ballot.

Voters in the Democratic Republic of Congo went to the polls on Sunday in elections that will shape the future of their vast, troubled country, amid fears that violence could overshadow the ballot. Millions of electors are choosing a successor to President Joseph Kabila, who is stepping down two years after his term limit expired — a delay that sparked bloody clashes and revived traumatic memories of past turmoil. The vote gives DR Congo the chance of its first peaceful transfer of power since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. But analysts say the threat of violence is great, given the many organisational problems and wide-ranging suspicion of Kabila. The election's credibility has already been strained by repeated delays, the risk of hitches on polling day and accusations that electronic voting machines will produce a rigged result. On the eve of the vote, talks between key candidates to avert post-election violence broke down. Opposition frontrunners Martin Fayulu and Felix Tshisekedi refused Saturday to sign a proposed peace pledge, saying election officials had failed to make suggested changes to the text. The announcement came after the pair had met with the Independent National Election Commission (CENI) as well as Kabila's preferred successor, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary. The UN, the United States and Europe have loudly appealed for the elections to be free, fair and peaceful — a call echoed on Wednesday by the presidents of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and the neighbouring Republic of Congo. Polling stations opened in the east of the country a little after their scheduled time of 0400 GMT and an hour later in Kinshasa and the west. Kabila voted in the capital along with his family, just minutes before Shadary also cast his ballot in the same polling station. "I feel liberated, freed," said Victor Balibwa, a 53-year-old civil servant and one of the first voters to cast his ballot in Lubumbashi, the country's mining capital in the southeast. "I'm excited to vote, to be able to choose at last. It's my first election," an 18-year-old student named Rachel told AFP in the eastern city of Goma, an opposition stronghold. Some polling stations opened late in Goma and elsewhere. In one, electoral officials were still adjusting voting machines and in another, a technician needed to restart a machine that had broken down, an AFP reporter saw. The last polls are due to close at 1600 GMT. Provisional results are due on January 6. Twenty-one candidates are contending the presidential election, which is taking place simultaneously with ballots for the national legislature and municipal bodies. The frontrunners include Kabila's champion Shadary, a hardline former interior minister facing EU sanctions for a crackdown on protesters. His biggest rivals are Fayulu, until recently a little-known legislator and former oil executive, and Tshisekedi, head of a veteran opposition party, the UDPS. If the elections are "free and fair," an opposition candidate will almost certainly win, according to Jason Stearns of the Congo Research Group, based at the Center on International Cooperation at New York University. Opinion polls indicate Fayulu is a clear favourite, garnering around 44 per cent of voting intentions, followed by 24 per cent for Tshisekedi and 18 per cent for Shadary, he said. However, "the potential for violence is extremely high," Stearns warned. Between 43 and 63 per cent of respondents said they would not accept the results if Shadary is declared the winner, he said. And between 43 per cent and 53 per cent said they did not trust DRC's courts to settle any election dispute fairly. However, Kabila said he was confident "everything will go well on Sunday". "I want to reassure our people that measures have been taken with the government to guarantee the safety of all sides, candidates, voters and observers alike," he said in his end-of-year address broadcast Saturday. Eighty times the size of its former colonial master Belgium, the DRC covers 2.3 million square kilometres in the middle of Africa, behind only Algeria in the area on the continent. Gold, uranium, copper, cobalt and other riches are extracted from its soil, but little of that wealth comes down to the poor. In the last 22 years, the country has twice been a battleground for wars drawing in armies from around central and southern Africa. The legacy of that era endures today in the DRC's eastern border region, where ruthless militias have carried out hundreds of killings. Insecurity and an ongoing Ebola epidemic in part of North Kivu province, and communal violence in Yumbi, in the southwest of the country, prompted the authorities to postpone the elections there until March. Kabila said the vote would take place "as soon as the situation allows it". Around 1.25 million people, out of a national electoral roll of 40 million, are affected. No explanation has been offered as to whether or how the delayed vote will affect the official outcome, and legal experts say the postponement is unconstitutional.

DR Congo goes to polls after troubled odyssey

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