DRC Ebola outbreak reaches 1,333 confirmed cases, clinical trials for Bundibugyo strain anticipated
via Business News5 min read
The 17th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, has reached 1,333 confirmed cases. Health authorities continue to record new infections, with active transmission foci primarily in Ituri and North Kivu provinces. The National Institute of Public Health INSP updated its statistics after cleaning and harmonizing its DHIS2 database, integrating delayed reported cases and deaths, which contributed to the observed increase. On June 29 alone, 26 new infections were confirmed, mainly in Ituri and North Kivu. The outbreak has resulted in 399 deaths, 189 recoveries, and 609 patients currently hospitalized or isolated. The provisional fatality rate is close to 30%, consistent with historical data for the Bundibugyo strain. The World Health Organization WHO considers the epidemic active, noting sustained transmission despite advances in contact tracing, decentralized laboratory capacity, and increased care capabilities. However, the WHO states that the overall response remains insufficient to rapidly interrupt virus circulation, citing increasing cases and deaths, pressure on treatment centers, and incomplete preparedness in some health facilities. Congolese authorities report that 82.7% of identified contacts are being monitored, indicating improved epidemiological surveillance, but also that some potentially exposed individuals are not yet under control. The Bundibugyo strain currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. The Afric
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Tunisia is finalizing the creation of its first official marine and coastal reserves, a significant step in environmental preservation. Mehdi Belhadj, Director General for Administrative Affairs at the Agency for Coastal Protection and Development, confirmed on June 30, 2026, that regulatory texts have been submitted to the Prime Minister's Office for imminent publication. This initiative addresses global concerns about marine ecosystem degradation due to pollution, overexploitation, and climate change. The new legal framework will grant enhanced protection to vital marine and coastal areas, boosting Tunisia's environmental credibility internationally. These protected areas are also expected to attract international funding for ecosystem protection, scientific research, and sustainable development. Furthermore, they will promote responsible ecotourism and aid in the replenishment of fish stocks, crucial for the coastal economy. Several ecologically rich zones have been identified, including the Galite Islands, Zembra and Zembretta Islands, Kuriat Islands, and Kneiss Islands. One of these will become the country's first official marine reserve, with the final selection pending consultations with ministries such as Agriculture and Defense. The government plans further protection efforts for areas like the Kerkennah Islands, Ras Rmel in Djerba, and Cap Negro, aiming to establish a national network of marine and coastal protected areas.
Must ReadFormer minister and lawyer Mohamed Abbou issued a call on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, for individuals facing politically motivated cases to boycott their trials. In a social media message, he argued that the legitimacy of these proceedings should no longer be recognized, urging the accused to refuse to appear in court and their lawyers to cease defending the merits of the cases. This stance follows the conviction of journalist Zied El Heni, whose health reportedly deteriorated during his transfer to court. Abbou revealed that El Heni had asked him not to publicly discuss his illness, a wish respected by his family. However, Abbou stated that the issue is now El Heni's significant exhaustion after arriving at court around 2 PM in the heat, following a prison transport with poor conditions. His lawyer noted extreme fatigue and speech difficulties before his family visit. Abbou also mentioned El Heni suffers from high blood pressure. Regarding a land regularization case in Carthage, where El Heni served on the special municipal delegation, Abbou asserted that no evidence shows El Heni personally approved the regularization or sale. He also recalled that El Heni had insisted his lawyers fully defend him in another case concerning "harm to others," which arose from his revelations about an arrest leading to an officer's death and a journalist's three-and-a-half-year imprisonment before acquittal. Based on these observations, Abbou believes a new strategy is needed for political trials
Must ReadMehrez Ghannouchi, a popular Tunisian weather presenter, has called for the public execution and broadcast of the death sentence handed down to the main accused in the murder of a taxi driver in Kram. Ghannouchi, who has thousands of followers on Facebook, stated that such an execution should serve as a lesson to criminals. His post garnered thousands of positive reactions and approving comments. While Tunisia retains the death penalty in its penal code, no executions have been carried out since 1991, with the country observing a de facto moratorium for over three decades. However, recent high-profile cases have reignited calls for the resumption of executions. The article highlights the significant difference between supporting capital punishment and advocating for public executions as a spectacle, a practice historically associated with authoritarian regimes. It notes that Ghannouchi's influence, stemming from his credibility in meteorology, amplifies such radical statements. This is not his first controversial remark, as he previously described Hurricane Milton as a "divine punishment." The author argues that social media platforms amplify immediate emotions like anger and the desire for punishment, turning calls for public, filmed hangings into content that generates approval and visibility, despite justice not being intended to organize spectacles of death.