World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo this Friday to assess a deadly Ebola outbreak.
The virus has swept through three provinces and crossed into neighbouring Uganda, which recently reported two new infections among Congolese nationals.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control reported over one thousand suspected cases and nearly two hundred and fifty tragic deaths.
In a rare glimmer of hope amidst the mounting crisis, health officials confirmed the first patient recovery since mid-May.
However, the actual reach of this highly contagious hemorrhagic fever is likely much wider due to severely limited testing capacities.
Decades of violent conflict and displacement camps packed like sardines create a fertile playground for the virus to spread rapidly.
Terrified refugees living in cramped tarpaulin shelters fear a single infection could decimate entire communities overnight due to poor hygiene.
Compounding the crisis, scientists note there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this particular Bundibugyo strain.
Health officials remain hopeful that clinical trials will yield a viable vaccine before the current year draws to a close.
Meanwhile, fearful neighboring nations have tightly sealed their borders to contain the virus and prevent a global health catastrophe.