DRC declares new Ebola outbreak in North Kivu province
DRC and international health officials used a trial vaccine during the last outbreak, which helped to contain its spread after it reached a large river port city
Goma, DRC — A new Ebola virus outbreak has been confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, governor Julien Paluku said on Wednesday, a week after the country declared an end to a separate outbreak that killed 33 people in the northwest. The latest outbreak was found in the province of North Kivu, near the Congo’s border with Uganda. "Ebola virus confirmed in North Kivu," Paluku wrote on Twitter. "I call for calm and prudence." Authorities did not immediately say how many cases had been detected. The DRC’s health ministry said on Monday that it had found 25 cases of haemorrhagic fever near the town of Beni and that samples had been sent to the capital, Kinshasa, for testing. This is the DRC’s 10th outbreak of Ebola since 1976, when the virus was discovered near the eponymous river in the north. DRC and international health officials deployed an experimental vaccine during the last outbreak, which helped contain its spread after it reached a large river port city. Reuters
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.