By Ahmed Aboulenein and Doina Chiacu
WASHINGTON, May 15 (Reuters) – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is monitoring reports of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda and providing technical assistance to their governments, its acting director said on Friday.
Africa’s top public health agency said on Friday that there was a confirmed Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province, with 65 deaths out of 246 suspected cases so far, and Uganda’s health ministry said a Congolese man had died in Kampala of Ebola Bundibugyo.
“CDC has extensive experience and expertise in responding to Ebola outbreaks, and we are working closely with the DRC Ministry of Health through our country office to support our response efforts,” said Acting Director Jay Bhattacharya.
“This morning we also heard from the Government of Uganda confirming an Ebola outbreak there, and we are also coordinating with our country office in Uganda and our colleagues there to track and help with the outbreak there,” Bhattacharya told reporters on a media call.
Asked about cuts to U.S. foreign aid across Africa, Bhattacharya said the CDC country offices in both nations were well-staffed and equipped to help with the outbreak, and that the agency will mobilize them as needed.
(Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein and Doina Chiacu in Washington; Additional reporting by Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Mark Porter and Bill Berkrot)
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