Full story: Ebola Outbreak Could Cost Africa Up to $3.6bn, UN Warns on Outbreak News Today⁠.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda could cost Africa as much as $3.6 billion and lead to the loss of 328,000 jobs if it spreads further across the region, according to a warning from the UN Development Programme. The outbreak has infected more than 1,300 people and killed 377 in DR Congo, with additional confirmed cases in neighboring Uganda. Health officials are especially concerned because this outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which currently has no licensed vaccine or specific treatment. Transmission is concentrated in eastern DR Congo, where conflict, displacement, weak isolation systems, and strained treatment centers are complicating containment efforts. UN and health agencies estimate hundreds of millions of dollars are needed for the medical response, with broader humanitarian needs pushing the total much higher. Officials warn that without rapid funding, community trust, safe burials, and stronger cross-border surveillance, the outbreak could deepen into a wider regional health and economic crisis.

Full story: Dozens of Dead Swans in London Docklands Trigger Bird Flu Investigation on Outbreak News Today⁠.

Authorities are currently investigating a mass die-off of swans in London's Docklands following the discovery of at least 30 carcasses near Canary Wharf. Witnesses described the birds collapsing suddenly, leading experts to suspect a localized outbreak of avian influenza. In response, the Canal & River Trust has hired specialists to remove the remains while Defra conducts diagnostic testing to confirm the cause of death. Local wildlife hospitals have implemented strict biosafety protocols, such as treating new arrivals outdoors, to prevent further transmission. While the official results are pending, health officials are urging the public to avoid touching any sick or dead wildlife and to report sightings to the government. Although the risk to humans remains low, residents are advised to maintain rigorous hygiene after visiting the affected waterways.