Congo has declared its 16th Ebola outbreak in Kasai province, with at least 15 deaths as authorities and the WHO race to contain the virus.
Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in southern Kasai province, with at least 15 deaths linked to the virus, the Health Ministry said Thursday.
The outbreak
The first confirmed case was a 34-year-old pregnant woman in Boulapé, Mweka territory. She was admitted to hospital with hemorrhagic fever symptoms and died within hours. The outbreak has now been linked to 28 suspected cases, including four health workers, with a fatality rate of 53.6%. Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba described the situation as “grave.”
Transmission and symptoms
Ebola, caused by the Zaire strain, is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids and contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and internal or external bleeding.
Response efforts
The World Health Organization warned, “Case numbers are likely to increase as the transmission is ongoing.” WHO has dispatched experts, protective equipment, and mobile laboratories to Kasai. Local health teams report shortages of personnel and supplies. “The main challenges we face involve the lack of personnel and the shortage of personal protective equipment,” said Dr. Amitié Bukidi, head of the Mweka health zone.
Previous outbreaks
This marks Congo’s 16th Ebola outbreak. A 2018-20 epidemic in the east killed more than 1,000 people, while a 2014-16 outbreak in West Africa claimed over 11,000 lives.
Containment measures
Authorities in Mweka have imposed partial confinement, closing markets, schools, and graduation ceremonies to curb the spread.
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