Death toll from Ebola outbreak in Congo rises to 116
There are 350 suspected cases, and the presence of the disease has spread to other areas of the country
The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported “116 suspicious deaths” due to the Ebola virus outbreak declared last Friday in the province of Ituri. The Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya, explained that the disease has already spread to the towns of Katwa, in North Kivu, and Nyankunde, in Ituri.
There are also another 350 suspected cases. The majority of those affected are between 20 and 39 years old and more than 60 percent are women.
“This spread of the disease to new areas raises concerns about the risk of increased transmission in densely populated regions, characterized by significant population movements,” the spokesperson said. Muyaya assured the population that epidemiological surveillance, case management and community awareness campaigns are advancing rapidly to limit the transmission of the virus.
"We urge the population to strictly comply with public health measures. I recommend washing your hands frequently and avoiding all contact with dead animals and corpses," the minister concluded. Last Saturday, the DRC Government officially declared a state of emergency and sent seven tons of supplies, with the support of its partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as health personnel, to reinforce the area.
American infected in Germany
The United States, meanwhile, announced that it will strengthen precautions to prevent the spread of Ebola by carrying out health checks at airports on passengers from affected areas. In addition, it will temporarily suspend visas.
Satish Pillai, head of Ebola incident management at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), also reported that an American working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had contracted the virus.
“The person developed symptoms over the weekend and tested positive on Sunday night,” Pillai said. He added that efforts are being made to transfer the person to Germany for treatment. He also revealed that Washington is seeking to evacuate another six people to monitor their health, and that there are approximately 25 people working in the United States field office in the DRC.