Researchers have identified and formally described a new species of the African monkey genus Colobus living in the remote interior of the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking only the fifth new monkey species found on the continent in the past 75 years.

The post Scientists Discover New Monkey Species in Democratic Republic of Congo appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

It is only the fifth new African monkey identified as a new species in the past 75 years.

Experts say cuts have hindered the response to DRC’s Ebola outbreak and resulted in ‘significant numbers’ of deaths

Elon Musk has an Ebola problem. SpaceX stock dropped precipitously after its initial public offering, and Tesla faces a wave of lawsuits. But instead of focusing on his companies, Musk has posted frequently on X about the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which he helped dismantle – or, in his words, feed into the woodchipper – last year.

“Elon’s USAID crash-out over the past week has been a thing to behold,” said Jeremy Konyndyk, a former top USAID official who oversaw the agency’s Ebola response in 2014-2015 and the president of Refugees International. “In a way, it’s helpful that Elon is doing this, because it’s putting attention back on the issue of what he did last year.”

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© Photograph: Dieudonne Dirole/EPA

© Photograph: Dieudonne Dirole/EPA

© Photograph: Dieudonne Dirole/EPA

The patient had traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the health ministry said. Workers are racing to trace those who may have had contact.

That is good news for patients, but officials fear it will make controlling the spread of the disease harder.

Trials are beginning on several drugs that have shown promise in preliminary studies against the virus that is causing the current outbreak.

The virologist was stopped at the Detroit airport after working in Congo during an mpox epidemic. His lawyer said the material was for research.

The Bundibugyo virus, a little known type, previously had caused just two small outbreaks. Now it’s at the center of a rapidly widening epidemic in Africa.