中非伊波拉疫情再度爆發

全球提高警戒 各國機場加強入境篩檢

非洲中部地區近日再度爆發嚴重伊波拉（Ebola）疫情，引起國際社會高度關注。根據 World Health Organization 最新公布資料，疫情主要集中於剛果民主共和國及鄰近的烏干達地區，目前疑似病例已超過九百例，死亡人數持續增加，世界衛生組織已將此次疫情列為「國際公共衛生緊急事件」。

此次疫情最令人擔憂之處，在於病毒屬於較罕見的「Bundibugyo」型伊波拉病毒，目前全球尚無正式核准的專用疫苗，使防疫工作面臨更大挑戰。由於疫區部分地區長期動亂，醫療資源不足，加上難民移動頻繁，也讓病毒傳播風險快速上升。

伊波拉病毒是一種高度致命的傳染病，主要透過患者體液接觸傳播，包括血液、汗液、唾液及受污染物品等。患者初期症狀包括高燒、頭痛、虛弱、腹瀉與嘔吐，嚴重者可能出現內出血與器官衰竭。醫學界指出，伊波拉並非透過空氣傳播，因此一般日常接觸風險相對有限，但近距離照護與醫療環境仍屬高危險區域。

面對疫情升溫，全球多國已提高警戒。美國政府近日宣布，加強對來自非洲疫區旅客的入境健康篩檢措施，包括體溫檢測、健康問卷及旅行史調查。休士頓 George Bush Intercontinental Airport 等國際機場也已啟動特別監控程序，以降低病毒輸入風險。

專家指出，目前美國本土大規模爆發風險仍低，但在全球化交通頻繁下，各國仍須嚴密監測疫情發展。國際社會也呼籲加速提供疫區醫療援助、疫苗研究與公共衛生資源，以避免疫情進一步擴散。

此次伊波拉疫情，再次提醒全球：在人類高度流動的時代，任何一場地區性傳染病，都可能迅速演變成國際危機。如何建立更完善的全球公共衛生合作機制，已成為世界各國共同面對的重要課題。

A serious Ebola outbreak is currently spreading in Central Africa, mainly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring Uganda. The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine. 

Key developments:

● More than 900 suspected cases and over 220 suspected deaths have been reported in Congo. 

● Uganda has confirmed several linked cases, including deaths connected to travelers from Congo. 

● The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” 

● Conflict, refugee movement, attacks on medical centers, and mistrust of authorities are making containment difficult. 

● International airports, including George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, have increased health screening for travelers arriving from affected African regions. 

Common Ebola symptoms include:

● Fever

● Severe weakness

● Vomiting

● Diarrhea

● Bleeding in severe cases

Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people or contaminated materials — not through normal casual contact or air like COVID-19. 

Health officials say the current risk to the United States remains low, but monitoring and airport screening have been intensified