Dear Ambassadors,
 I'm writing to inform you of a situation of some concern in the Ubangi region. There has been an outbreak of a clinical syndrome consisting of fever, gastrointestinal bleeding, and shock. To date there have been 13 cases, all of which are in the town of Boende in southern Ubangi. The Congolese Ministry of Health has responded aggressively and appropriately. They've tested 13 patients for Ebola virus and 2 have been confirmed to be positive thus far.

As you probably already understand, Ebola is a highly fatal disease with no curative treatment available. However, basic supportive therapy has brought the mortality rate down to 55% from its historic rate of 90%. Thus far the outbreak is confined to southern Ubangi, which puts the Congo River and its extensive wetlands between that locale and our area north of the Congo River. The Ebola epidemic in West Africa has rightly received an increasingly aggressive western response. If the small outbreak in Ubangi enlarges we anticipate a robust response from the international community. The PCP's Medical Steering Team is monitoring the situation with an aim to provide assistance if and when the need arises. In the meantime, we will greatly appreciate your prayers that this outbreak will be quickly contained. I'll be in touch when we have more information.

In Christ,

Dr. Eric Gunnoe