Brazil Monitors Suspected Ebola Cases

Brazilian health authorities are monitoring two patients for possible Ebola infection in Brazil — São Paulo and Brazil — Rio de Janeiro, raising concerns about the spread of the deadly virus from central Africa. One patient, a 37-year-old man from Democratic Republic of the Congo, exhibited fever symptoms in Brazil — São Paulo, while another man from Uganda showed viral symptoms in Brazil — Rio de Janeiro, though he later tested positive for malaria. Initial tests for Ebola in the Brazil — São Paulo patient were negative, but monitoring continues. The current Ebola outbreak, concentrated in Democratic Republic of the Congo, has seen over 1,000 suspected cases and nearly 250 deaths since May 15, with confirmed infections in Uganda. The World Health Organization warns the true scale of the outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain, is likely much wider. Despite the suspected cases, the Brazil — São Paulo government assesses the risk of the disease being introduced into Brazil and South America as very low. Médecins Sans Frontières has expressed alarm over the rapid spread, noting the response has not kept pace. Uganda and Rwanda have closed borders with Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Trump administration banned entry for non-US passport holders from affected regions. A Kenyan court also blocked a proposed US Ebola quarantine center.