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Ebola outbreak kills 65 people in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
TL;DR
An Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has resulted in 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases. Health officials are concerned about the potential for further spread due to the area's mining towns and population movement.
Key points
- Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
- 65 deaths reported from the outbreak
- 246 suspected cases in Ituri province
- Concerns about further spread due to population movement
- Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids
Mentioned in this story
Democratic Republic of the CongoIturi provinceAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
An outbreak of Ebola has killed 65 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to African health officials.
There have been 246 suspected cases of the deadly haemorrhagic fever reported so far in Ituri province, which shares borders with Uganda and South Sudan.
Officials at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said they were concerned about the risk of further spread. The area is home to mining towns where people are constantly coming and going, making infectious disease control challenging.
Ebola is a severe illness with a high fatality rate that spreads through direct contact with body fluids such as the blood or vomit of infected people, or dead bodies, such as during funeral preparations.
The DRC’s national research laboratory has detected the Ebola virus in 13 of 20 samples tested, Africa CDC said on Friday.
The DRC has had 16 outbreaks of Ebola since the virus was identified there in 1976.
Typically they have had the Zaire strain of Ebola, for which vaccines are available. However, Africa CDC said early testing suggested the current outbreak was a different type, with fuller genetic sequencing results due within 24 hours.
The health watchdog said it was convening an urgent meeting on Friday with authorities from the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan as well as the World Health Organization and pharmaceutical companies.
“Africa CDC stands in solidarity with the government and people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as they respond to this outbreak,” said Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC. “Given the high population movement between affected areas and neighbouring countries, rapid regional coordination is essential.”
Cases have been reported mainly in Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, with suspected cases also reported in neighbouring Bunia.
Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton in the UK, said: “The Democratic Republic of the Congo often sees fatalities from Ebola. There is likely a perfect storm of factors that cause these regular outbreaks. Close human contact with animal reservoirs, most likely bats but possibly also primates, is one factor. Other concerns include the movement of people between rural and urban environments, the tropical climate, and the high rainforest coverage.”
Q&A
What is the current death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
The current death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is 65 people.
How many suspected cases of Ebola have been reported in Ituri province?
There have been 246 suspected cases of Ebola reported in Ituri province.
What challenges do health officials face in controlling the Ebola outbreak in the DRC?
Health officials face challenges in controlling the Ebola outbreak due to the constant movement of people in mining towns, which complicates infectious disease management.
