中非伊波拉疫情再度爆发

全球提高警戒 各国机场加强入境筛检

非洲中部地区近日再度爆发严重伊波拉（Ebola）疫情，引起国际社会高度关注。根据 World Health Organization 最新公布资料，疫情主要集中於刚果民主共和国及邻近的乌干达地区，目前疑似病例已超过九百例，死亡人数持续增加，世界卫生组织已将此次疫情列為「国际公共卫生紧急事件」。

此次疫情最令人担忧之处，在於病毒属於较罕见的「Bundibugyo」型伊波拉病毒，目前全球尚无正式核准的专用疫苗，使防疫工作面临更大挑战。由於疫区部分地区长期动乱，医疗资源不足，加上难民移动频繁，也让病毒传播风险快速上升。

伊波拉病毒是一种高度致命的传染病，主要透过患者体液接触传播，包括血液、汗液、唾液及受污染物品等。患者初期症状包括高烧、头痛、虚弱、腹泻与呕吐，严重者可能出现内出血与器官衰竭。医学界指出，伊波拉并非透过空气传播，因此一般日常接触风险相对有限，但近距离照护与医疗环境仍属高危险区域。

面对疫情升温，全球多国已提高警戒。美国政府近日宣布，加强对来自非洲疫区旅客的入境健康筛检措施，包括体温检测、健康问卷及旅行史调查。休士顿 George Bush Intercontinental Airport 等国际机场也已啟动特别监控程序，以降低病毒输入风险。

专家指出，目前美国本土大规模爆发风险仍低，但在全球化交通频繁下，各国仍须严密监测疫情发展。国际社会也呼吁加速提供疫区医疗援助、疫苗研究与公共卫生资源，以避免疫情进一步扩散。

此次伊波拉疫情，再次提醒全球：在人类高度流动的时代，任何一场地区性传染病，都可能迅速演变成国际危机。如何建立更完善的全球公共卫生合作机制，已成為世界各国共同面对的重要课题。

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