More than 60 de@d, 246 infected as new Ebola outbreak hits DR Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo is battling a fresh Ebola outbreak, with the Africa CDC reporting 246 suspected infections and 65 de@ths so far.

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The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the continent’s top public health body, on Friday confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in Congo’s remote Ituri province, with 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths recorded so far.

“Four deaths have been reported among laboratory-confirmed cases. Suspected cases have also been reported in Bunia, pending confirmation,” the agency said, referring to the capital of Ituri province, near the border with Uganda.

It said preliminary laboratory results have detected the Ebola virus in 13 of 20 samples tested.

The latest outbreak comes around five months after Congo’s last Ebola outbreak was declared over after 43 deaths.

Ituri is in a remote eastern part of Congo characterized by poor road networks, and is more than 1,000 kilometers from the nation’s capital of Kinshasa.

Africa CDC said it is concerned about the risk of further spread due to intense population movement, mining-related mobility in Mongwalu, insecurity in affected areas, gaps in contact listing, and control challenges.

“Given the high population movement between affected areas and neighbouring countries, rapid regional coordination is essential. We are working with DRC, Uganda, South Sudan, and partners to strengthen surveillance, preparedness, and response, and to help contain the outbreak as quickly as possible,” said Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC in a statement.

The agency said it is convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting on Friday with health authorities from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, together with key partners, including United Nations agencies.

“The meeting will focus on immediate response priorities, cross-border coordination, surveillance, laboratory support, infection prevention and control, risk communication, safe and dignified burials, and resource mobilisation,” it said.

The health agency is urging communities in affected and at-risk areas to report symptoms promptly, avoid direct contact with suspected cases, and support response teams working to protect communities, and to follow guidance from national health authorities.

This is the 17th outbreak in Congo since the disease first emerged in the country in 1976.

The Ebola virus is highly contagious and can be contracted through bodily fluids such as vomit, blood, or semen. The disease it causes is rare, but severe and often fatal.