An Ebola virus epidemic has broken out in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Three people died.
West Africa breathes with relief. It is the turn of the neighboring region to worry. An Ebola epidemic has broken out in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). One case has been confirmed. The Central African country is asking the World Health Organization (WHO) for help to limit the spread of the virus.
Since April 22, 9 suspected cases have been declared in the north of the country, in the province of Bas-Uele. The signs of an Ebola virus infection speak for themselves: fever, diarrhea, rashes. In the most severe cases, kidney and liver problems develop, as well as bleeding.
The Congolese authorities therefore took the blood of five patients. Among them, “one was found to be positive for the Ebola virus, Zaire serotype,” said Dr Oly Ilunga Kalenga, Minister of Public Health of the DRC. This is the same strain that was identified during the massive epidemic in West Africa. But in the latter case, she had transferred.
Hygiene measures
Of the suspected cases, three have been shown to be fatal. The Congolese government has therefore taken the necessary measures to limit the scale of the epidemic. She appealed to the WHO to strengthen their application.
Impeccable personal hygiene measures reduce the risk of contagion. Washing hands and avoiding contact with body fluids from patients or corpses are two methods that are regularly put forward. The populations are also invited to limit their consumption of bushmeat. Indeed, the bat would be the natural reservoir of the virus.
The DRC is used to epidemics caused by Ebola. It was in this country that the virus was first identified, in 1967, taking the name of a northern river. The last outbreak dates back to 2014. It left 49 people dead.
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