Uganda’s Health Ministry said the country’s response to the outbreak had been effective, with two deaths recorded among 19 confirmed cases since the alert was raised after cases emerged in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo in mid-May.

“While we appreciate the need for vigilance, blanket restrictions undermine confidence in countries that report outbreaks openly, and are not commensurate with the actual risk,” Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at Uganda’s Health Ministry, said.

The restrictions were imposed by countries including the United States, Canada and the United Arab Emirates on travelers from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring South Sudan.

Most of Uganda’s confirmed cases involved Congolese nationals who crossed the border from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 676 cases have been reported and 136 deaths recorded since May 15.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Uganda’s response during a visit to the country, while the UN health agency warned that the outbreak in Congo was spreading to new areas.

The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a form for which there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment. The virus spreads through close contact with infected bodily fluids and has caused thousands of deaths across Africa over recent decades.

Health authorities reported 550 confirmed cases as of Sunday, including 101 deaths and 19 recoveries, according to the latest situation update released late Monday. The outbreak was officially declared on May 15.

The vast majority of infections have been recorded in Ituri province, which accounts for more than 90 percent of confirmed cases. Additional cases have been identified in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, while the virus has also crossed into neighboring Uganda.

Officials believe the true number of infections may be higher because the outbreak was detected weeks after transmission had already begun. Response efforts have been further complicated by the absence of an approved vaccine or treatment for the strain responsible for the current outbreak.

The outbreak has been linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus, for which no approved vaccine or therapeutic treatment currently exists. This differs from the Zaire strain, which was responsible for most of Congo’s previous Ebola outbreaks and for which vaccines and treatments have been developed.

Authorities said the sharp increase in confirmed infections partly reflects expanded diagnostic capacity, which has enabled laboratories to process a backlog of previously collected samples.

Health workers operating in affected areas continue to face significant obstacles. Medical teams have been attacked on multiple occasions by residents frustrated by the outbreak response, while persistent skepticism among some communities has complicated surveillance and containment efforts.

Security concerns remain a major challenge across eastern Congo, where numerous armed groups continue to operate. Ongoing violence has limited access to several affected communities and disrupted disease-monitoring activities.

The World Health Organization said Monday that insecurity is restricting access for response teams, hindering surveillance operations and increasing the risk that new chains of transmission could go undetected.

The agency said the attacks on health personnel underscore the difficulties of responding to a public health emergency in conflict-affected areas and highlighted the importance of cooperation with local leaders and communities.

Eastern Congo has experienced repeated outbreaks of Ebola over the past decade, but health officials warn that the combination of armed conflict, delayed detection and the lack of approved medical countermeasures for the Bundibugyo strain presents a particularly complex challenge for containment efforts.

The petition, submitted to a court in Dhaka on Monday by lawmaker Mujibur Rahman Iqbal, alleges that Yunus’ caretaker administration failed to procure measles vaccines and neglected a scheduled nationwide immunization campaign during its 18-month tenure, which ended following general elections in February.

According to the filing, the missed vaccination drive contributed to an outbreak officially recorded on March 15. Since then, 620 children have died with measles symptoms and more than 79,000 have been hospitalized, making it the country’s most severe outbreak in recent decades.

Advocate Rafiqul Islam, representing the petitioner, said the complaint accused the former administration of deliberately failing to fulfill its public health responsibilities despite repeated warnings from UNICEF about the risks of delaying immunization.

The case names Yunus, former health adviser Nur Jahan Begum and three other former officials as respondents.

The court dismissed the petition on the day it was filed, according to Islam, who said he was awaiting the written order before seeking a review of the decision.

The legal action follows a separate petition filed last month by a High Court lawyer seeking an investigation into the former government’s 18-month administration.

Health experts say the outbreak remains difficult to contain despite a vaccination campaign launched by the current government in April.

Dr. Be-Nazir Ahmed, former director of the disease control branch at Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Health Services, said approximately 1,000 children with measles symptoms are still being admitted to hospitals each day.

Ahmed said infection rates had not declined as expected after the launch of the vaccination campaign and called for a review of the government’s response to identify gaps in implementation.

Public health officials note that measles requires vaccination coverage of at least 95% to prevent transmission. The current campaign targets children aged six months to 59 months, a broader age group than the country’s routine immunization schedule, which administers measles-rubella vaccines at nine and 15 months.

Health experts say the change in vaccination strategy may have created confusion among parents, leaving some eligible children unvaccinated and allowing the virus to continue spreading.

Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, assumed leadership of Bangladesh’s caretaker government following student-led protests that removed the previous administration. His office has not publicly responded to the latest allegations.

A growing number of complaints about dog waste on city sidewalks and in public spaces is prompting New York officials to pursue new measures aimed at encouraging responsible pet ownership, as residents across several neighborhoods express frustration over what they describe as a worsening quality-of-life problem.

The issue has become particularly acute in Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood, where residents say dog waste has become increasingly common on sidewalks, near parks and around residential buildings.

According to city data cited by local officials, the community board that includes Washington Heights has recorded at least 175 dog waste complaints this year, the highest total among New York City’s community districts. The next highest district reported 116 complaints.

For residents such as Kumar Satya, who has lived in Washington Heights since 2017, the problem has become impossible to ignore despite the neighborhood’s otherwise vibrant atmosphere.Satya, a physician, said he values the area’s parks, active street life and strong sense of community.

Yet he believes the growing presence of dog waste has become a significant public nuisance.”I grew up in India, where open defecation is a problem,” Satya said. “This reminds me of that.”City officials say the increase in complaints reflects a broader trend that has emerged in recent years, driven in part by rising pet ownership.

The United States experienced a significant increase in dog ownership during and after the COVID-19 pandemic as many people sought companionship during periods of isolation.According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the number of pet dogs in the United States rose from approximately 76 million in 2016 to nearly 88 million in 2021.

The growth in dog ownership has coincided with rising reports of uncollected pet waste. Data provided by New York City show that complaints about dog waste increased from 2,100 in 2022 to 2,659 in 2025. More than 2,400 complaints had already been filed during the first months of 2026.

City officials partly attributed this year’s increase to winter weather. Snow accumulation during a major blizzard concealed waste for weeks before melting conditions exposed large amounts of accumulated dog feces.The issue extends beyond aesthetics. Public health experts have long noted that dog waste can contain bacteria, parasites and other pathogens.

During periods of heavy rainfall, contaminants from animal waste can enter drainage systems and local waterways, creating broader environmental concerns.Residents and dog owners say the causes vary. Some attribute the problem to inattentive owners distracted by phones or conversations, while others believe a minority of pet owners simply ignore their responsibilities.

Harry Berberian, a Brooklyn resident who owns a dog and works with a rescue organization, said he frequently observes owners failing to monitor their pets while walking through local parks.”I am one of those neighbors who goes out of my way to say something,” Berberian said, adding that conversations with offenders are often met with hostility.

In Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, residents have documented repeated incidents involving an individual whom neighbors say routinely leaves dog waste behind.Crystal Lee, a nurse and dog owner, said residents have confronted the individual and submitted evidence to city authorities.

Despite complaints and video recordings, she said enforcement efforts have yielded little result.”He has basically said, ‘F-you,'” Lee said of one confrontation.According to Lee, city sanitation officials responded to a complaint by reporting that an investigation had found no violation.”It’s just incredibly frustrating,” she said.New York has long been considered a pioneer in regulating pet waste.

In 1978, the city adopted the so-called Pooper-Scooper Law, becoming the first major U.S. city to require dog owners to remove waste left by their animals in public spaces.Violators can face fines of up to $250. However, officials acknowledge that enforcement remains difficult.

The Department of Sanitation reported conducting targeted patrols in neighborhoods including Washington Heights, Harlem, Morningside Heights and Flatbush in response to complaints filed through the city’s 311 system. Despite those efforts, enforcement officers rarely witnessed violations occurring in real time.

According to department figures, only two summonses were issued citywide during 2025.”The chances of someone not picking up after their dog while an enforcement officer is watching is very, very slim,” sanitation department spokesperson Vincent Gragnani said.

Recognizing the limitations of enforcement, city lawmakers are increasingly focusing on prevention and public education.Members of the New York City Council recently introduced the Safe and Clean Outdoor Ownership Practices Act, known as the SCOOP Act.

The legislation seeks to improve compliance through infrastructure improvements, public outreach and expanded access to dog waste disposal resources.

Among the proposals are requirements for agencies to regularly stock dog waste bag dispensers near litter baskets, install signage informing residents of penalties for violations, develop educational campaigns highlighting the environmental and health risks associated with dog waste, and explore pilot programs that would collect dog feces as part of composting initiatives.

Supporters argue that making cleanup easier and increasing public awareness may prove more effective than relying solely on fines.”There is no excuse when there are going to be these dog waste bags on litter baskets,” said City Council Speaker Julie Menin. “It’s not an enforcement approach.

It’s an education, awareness and deterrent approach.”Not all residents agree that education alone will solve the problem.Diane O’Dwyer, a Washington Heights resident and dog owner, believes stronger enforcement measures are necessary. She recalled witnessing a woman throw a sealed bag of dog waste into the street before entering a local convenience store.

Frustrated by the incident, O’Dwyer picked up the bag and tossed it back into the woman’s vehicle before leaving.She argues that meaningful deterrence requires a greater likelihood of penalties for repeat offenders and points to stricter enforcement practices she observed while living in the United Kingdom.

As city officials debate solutions, the issue has emerged as a broader discussion about urban living, civic responsibility and the challenges associated with growing pet ownership in densely populated neighborhoods.For many residents, the concern extends beyond inconvenience.

Sidewalks covered with animal waste affect public spaces used by families, children, elderly residents and dog owners who responsibly clean up after their pets.Whether through enforcement, education or infrastructure improvements, city leaders now face increasing pressure to address a problem that residents say has become one of New York’s most visible and persistent quality-of-life complaints.

Long queues of trucks carrying perishable goods such as plantains and fish have been stranded at the border, with many traders fearing their products will spoil before reaching markets.

Ugandan authorities tightened restrictions after Congo’s Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province worsened. While emergency and humanitarian traffic is still allowed, cargo movement has slowed significantly.

Officials say the measures are necessary to stop cross-border transmission of Ebola. Uganda has already recorded 15 confirmed Ebola cases linked to the outbreak in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Local businesses around the busy Mpondwe Border Post have been hit hard, with traders reporting spoiled goods, reduced income, and growing uncertainty.

The World Health Organization has warned that neighboring countries face a high risk of infection but generally discourages border closures, emphasizing surveillance and health measures instead.

Authorities say further restrictions may be introduced if the outbreak continues to spread.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said on Wednesday that the country’s specialized treatment network remains ready to respond to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the World Health Organization has reported 344 confirmed cases and 60 deaths.

The issue has gained prominence after the U.S. State Department said American citizens exposed to Ebola but not showing symptoms would be quarantined at a facility under construction at Kenya’s Laikipia Air Base. The department has also pledged to prevent travelers infected with Ebola from entering the United States.

Public health specialists have increasingly urged the U.S. government to bring infected Americans back to the United States for treatment rather than relying on overseas facilities. Opposition to the Kenyan quarantine center has intensified following protests that resulted in at least two deaths, while a Kenyan court has ordered construction work halted.

The United States invested heavily in Ebola preparedness after the 2014 West African outbreak, spending hundreds of millions of dollars to strengthen treatment capacity and establish a national network of specialized facilities capable of handling highly contagious pathogens.

Reuters contacted the 13 hospitals and universities participating in the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center network. Nine confirmed they are currently prepared to receive and treat patients exposed to Ebola.

The network includes institutions such as the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Emory University in Atlanta, Bellevue Hospital in New York and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Four institutions, including Emory, did not respond to requests for comment.

“The United States’ investment in preparedness remains a critical component of national health security,” HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard said, adding that participating hospitals are equipped to evaluate, isolate and treat patients with high-consequence infectious diseases while supporting broader outbreak response efforts.

Under federal requirements, designated treatment centers must be capable of caring for at least two patients exposed to contagious viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola. Facilities are required to conduct quarterly training exercises, maintain laboratory testing capabilities and stock protective equipment.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dozens of personnel deployed in the DRC and has said members of the U.S. Public Health Service Corps could be sent to support operations at the proposed Kenyan facility. American healthcare workers and aid personnel also continue to serve in the region through international relief organizations.

Several healthcare officials, including former CDC leaders, argued in an open letter this week that medical evacuation to established U.S. treatment centers would pose fewer risks than housing exposed Americans at a newly constructed overseas quarantine site.

A former CDC official familiar with the response effort said concerns surrounding the Kenya plan could complicate efforts to recruit American personnel for outbreak response missions.

The official said some prospective volunteers fear they could be left overseas if exposed to the virus, potentially undermining confidence in government support for public health workers deployed to epidemic zones.

More than a year after a cryptosporidium contamination incident affected drinking water supplies in parts of Devon, residents in some of the hardest-hit communities say they continue to face health challenges and remain dissatisfied with the response from water provider South West Water.

The outbreak, which affected communities including Higher Brixham and Kingswear, prompted boil-water notices and led to hundreds of reported illnesses. While official figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recorded 143 confirmed cases, many residents believe the true number of people affected was significantly higher.

The controversy resurfaced after South West Water admitted supplying water unfit for human consumption and was subsequently fined by a court. The company has stated that a damaged air valve and unauthorized pipework on a farm were believed to have caused the contamination.For some families, however, the consequences extend well beyond the legal proceedings.

Michelle, a foster carer in Higher Brixham, recalled the distress of discovering that a child in her care had contracted cryptosporidiosis after consuming contaminated water. She said one of the most difficult moments was informing the child’s birth family about what had happened.According to Michelle, she continues to feel guilt over the incident despite having had no knowledge that the water supply had been compromised at the time.

Residents have also reported longer-term health complications that they associate with the outbreak.Jen Watts, who lives in Higher Brixham, said her 10-year-old son spent four days in hospital after becoming ill during the contamination event. She said he subsequently developed avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder and continues to experience health challenges.

Watts described the impact on her family as ongoing and severe. While welcoming the court-imposed fine against South West Water, she argued that the punishment did not directly address the continuing difficulties faced by affected residents.She said stronger penalties should have been considered given the scale of the incident and the lasting consequences experienced by some families.

South West Water has maintained that it acted once contamination was identified. The company previously stated that it received its first notification of illness from the UK Health Security Agency on the afternoon of 13 May 2024. According to the company, cryptosporidium was detected during the early hours of 15 May, after which affected residents were advised to boil drinking water.

The company has also said it implemented additional safeguards designed to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future.In Kingswear, another community significantly affected by the outbreak, residents continue to describe both physical and emotional consequences.

Jo Byrne, manager of the village post office, said she initially believed she was suffering from food poisoning before learning of the contamination. She reported severe illness and substantial weight loss over a short period.Although she returned to work as quickly as possible, Byrne recalled struggling with exhaustion and said she now lives with irritable bowel syndrome.

She remains highly critical of South West Water and said she no longer trusts the company’s drinking water supply.Christopher Dawes, a member of Kingswear Parish Council, also fell ill during the outbreak. He described several days of severe gastrointestinal symptoms but said most residents had eventually resumed drinking tap water.

Even so, Dawes noted that anger toward the company remains widespread within the community more than a year after the incident.The scale of the outbreak remains a point of contention among local residents.Several people interviewed questioned the official case count, arguing that many individuals who became sick may never have been formally diagnosed or included in official statistics.

Zanne Henderson, who operates a seafood business in Kingswear, said she believed the number of affected residents was substantially higher than the figure reported by health authorities.Henderson said she began experiencing symptoms on 10 May 2024 and described the illness as particularly severe.

Like many people suffering from gastrointestinal infections, she increased her water intake during the early stages of illness, unaware that the water itself was the source of contamination.More than a year later, she believes her immune system remains affected.

While there is currently no formally recognized medical condition known as “long crypto,” Henderson said ongoing symptoms have left her feeling as though she has never fully recovered.The outbreak also had economic implications for local businesses and tourism-dependent communities.Kingswear and surrounding areas rely heavily on visitors, particularly during the warmer months.

Henderson said the contamination incident damaged local morale at a time when businesses were still recovering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.Residents said concerns about water safety created uncertainty for both visitors and local enterprises during a critical period for the area’s economy.

The incident has become part of a broader national debate over water infrastructure, regulatory oversight and accountability among privately owned water companies in England.For affected residents, however, the issue remains deeply personal. While the court case and fine represent an acknowledgment that contaminated water entered the public supply, many say the legal outcome does not fully reflect the disruption, illness and anxiety they experienced.

Questions about the precise number of people affected, the speed of the company’s response and the long-term health implications continue to shape local perceptions of the outbreak.

As communities in Higher Brixham and Kingswear move further from the events of May 2024, many residents say their confidence in the drinking water system has not been fully restored, and for some families the effects of the contamination remain an ongoing part of daily life.

practice of medically repatriating citizens exposed to or infected with dangerous infectious diseases abroad.The administration announced last week that it was establishing a quarantine facility in Kenya for U.S. citizens exposed to Ebola during the ongoing outbreak affecting eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Under the plan, Americans who develop symptoms would not be returned to the United States but instead transferred to a third country for treatment as Washington seeks to prevent Ebola cases from entering U.S. territory.

The health officials said the proposal raises “profound clinical, ethical, operational, and legal concerns,” warning that it could discourage healthcare workers and emergency responders from participating in outbreak-control missions in affected regions.They also expressed concern that resources would be diverted toward creating temporary quarantine, isolation and treatment infrastructure overseas rather than supporting efforts to contain the disease at its source.

According to the letter, such a shift could weaken already strained outbreak response operations and complicate international public health coordination.The administration’s plan has also generated opposition in Kenya, where concerns have been raised about the potential public health implications of hosting a quarantine center for foreign nationals exposed to Ebola.

A Kenyan court has temporarily suspended plans to establish the facility following a legal challenge arguing that the project could pose risks to public health. The ruling places the future of the proposed site in doubt as legal proceedings continue.The dispute highlights growing tensions between domestic disease-control priorities and international public health practices as governments seek to manage cross-border infectious disease threats while balancing political, logistical and medical considerations.

Nearly 600 children with suspected or confirmed measles have died since March, while hospitals across the country are struggling to cope with hundreds of new admissions each day. Medical facilities remain under severe pressure as doctors attempt to isolate infected patients and prevent further transmission.

Health experts fear large-scale population movement during the Eid holidays could accelerate the spread of the highly contagious disease, particularly in rural areas with limited access to healthcare services.

The outbreak has overwhelmed pediatric wards in several hospitals, prompting renewed calls for expanded vaccination efforts and stronger public health measures to contain the crisis.

Speaking at the opening of the facility in Ituri province, Tedros said four patients would be discharged on Sunday, while another had left care two days earlier, highlighting signs of progress in combating the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare variant for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently exists.

“Of course, we’re still working on vaccines and treatments but that doesn’t mean that people cannot recover from Ebola,” Tedros said.

The announcement follows confirmation by the WHO on Friday of the first documented recovery of a patient infected with the Bundibugyo virus during the current outbreak, a development health officials hope will encourage infected individuals to seek medical attention sooner.

According to the latest official figures released by the WHO, the outbreak has generated 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths in Congo. The disease has also crossed borders, with neighboring Uganda reporting nine confirmed cases and one death, according to the Ugandan Health Ministry.

Despite the opening of new facilities and the arrival of additional international assistance, humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, warned on Saturday that the virus continues to outpace containment efforts. The group called for expanded testing capacity, faster deployment of health personnel and uninterrupted access for medical supplies.

Health authorities have faced growing operational challenges as some local communities resist strict disease-control measures, particularly protocols governing the handling and burial of Ebola victims. Officials say at least three attacks have been carried out against health centers during the outbreak.

Tedros emphasized the importance of community cooperation, urging residents to seek treatment immediately after symptoms appear and to participate actively in containment efforts.

“If you come to health facilities when you have symptoms, you can get the support and recover,” he said, adding that early intervention remains critical to improving survival rates.

Security concerns have further complicated the response. In Ituri, attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces, an armed group linked to Daesh, along with violence involving ethnic militias, have limited access to some affected communities and disrupted medical operations.

The outbreak has also been reported in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels control several strategic urban centers, including Goma and Bukavu. The rebel movement has reported two Ebola cases in areas under its control.

Congolese health officials sought to reassure residents that the outbreak can be contained. Pierre Akilimali, incident manager at the National Institute of Public Health, said symptomatic treatment was producing encouraging results and helping patients recover.

Medical staff at the new treatment center echoed that assessment. Davin Ambitapio, a physician involved in the response, said healthcare workers remained optimistic that coordinated efforts by national authorities and international partners would eventually bring the outbreak under control.

The Bundibugyo strain was first identified in Uganda in 2007 and is one of several known Ebola virus species capable of causing severe hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in humans.