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A New Ebola Outbreak Was Just Confirmed in Congo
May 09, 2018
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3 min read
A New Ebola Outbreak Was Just Confirmed in Congo
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The Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a new outbreak of the Ebola virus on Tuesday, after two people in the country were confirmed to be infected, according to World Health Organization.
The current outbreak is in Bikoro, on the shores of Lake Tumba, in Congo. Congo's Health Ministry said that two of five samples sent to the National Institute of Biological Research came back positive for Ebola in the country's Equateur province.
Both cases were reportedly traced back to the Ilkoko Iponge health facility, located about 20 miles from Bikoro, according to WHO. Prior to the outbreak being confirmed, there have been 21 suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever in and around the iIkoko Iponge, including 17 deaths in the past five weeks.
"Our top priority is to get to Bikoro to work alongside the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and partners to reduce the loss of life and suffering related to this new Ebola virus disease outbreak,"said Dr. Peter Salama, WHO Deputy Director-General, Emergency Preparedness and Response. "Working with partners and responding early and in a coordinated way will be vital to containing this deadly disease."
Ebola is one of the world's most notorious viruses -- both highly infectious and extremely deadly. The virus can spread by direct contact with blood or bodily fluids of an infected person or animal. It is also spread by contact with an object contaminated with infected bodily fluids. In 2014, an Ebola outbreak in West Africa claimed the lives of more than 11,000 victims.
This is Congo's ninth Ebola outbreak since the first discovery of the virus in the country in 1976, with the last outbreak occurring in 2017.
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Following the discovery of this new outbreak, WHO has set up its Incident Management System -- meaning more than 50 health experts and resources across the organization were sent to Congo to further investigate the outbreak. The health agency is also releasing $1 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies in effort to stop Ebola from spreading to nearby areas and countries.
For most travelers, there is a very low risk for Ebola, according to the CDC. However, travelers should take these steps to prevent infection as recommended by the CDC:
What can travelers do to prevent Ebola?
- Avoid contact with sick people, dead bodies, blood, or body fluids
- Don't handle items that may have come in contact with a sick person's blood or body fluids.
- Avoid contact with animals
- Avoid contact with monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas, and bats.
- Don't eat or handle raw or undercooked meat or any bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food).
- Practice good hygiene
- Wash your hands often. If soap and water aren't available, clean your hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
- Don't touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you must, make sure your hands are clean first.
As of now, there are no reports of any entry screening programs for Ebola in airports or travel notices.
Photo by JOHN WESSELS/AFP/Getty Images.
Featured image by AFP/Getty Images
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Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.