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Australia is monitoring the latest deadly Ebola outbreak in central and eastern Africa “very closely”, Health Minister Mark Butler says as the death toll continues to climb.
More than 100 deaths have been linked to the outbreak in Congo and Uganda since the first case was detected in late April.
International health authorities reported almost 400 suspected cases as of Tuesday morning, with the World Health Organisation at the weekend declaring a “public health emergency of international concern”.
“The risk to Australia is still low, but we’re monitoring it very closely because, first of all, the case numbers are increasing almost every day there,” Mr Butler said.
“And it’s a rare strain that’s not responsive to vaccines or treatments that we have, so we’re monitoring it very closely.”
While Ebola outbreaks are not rare, this is only the third time the Bundibugyo variant has been reported
There are no approved vaccines or therapeutic treatments.
Symptoms start as flu-like before swiftly progressing to severe vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, rashes, and, in some cases, internal and external bleeding, according to the US Centres for Disease Control.
Ebola has never been reported in Australia.
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