Reuters AlertNet Full site
Homepage | Newsdesk | NGO Latest | Crisis briefings | Country profiles | MediaWatch | Jobs | Alerting | Login

NEWSDESK

DRC: Ebola outbreak in Kasai Occidental stabilised - WHO
02 Feb 2009 15:39:42 GMT
Source: IRIN
KINSHASA, 2 February 2009 (IRIN) - An Ebola outbreak in southern Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC's) Kasai Occidental Province is now under control, according to a UN official.

"The epidemic has stabilised but we cannot say it is over. There is still a likelihood of it spreading; there are more new cases," Matthieu Kamwa, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) resident representative in the DRC, said, adding that there was a need for increased vigilance.

According to an epidemiologist with the WHO, Adolphe Kongolo, at least 50 people have been affected with 15 deaths reported since 29 November when the outbreak began. The last positive case was confirmed on 18 January.

According to Kongolo, the National Institute of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa as well as laboratories in Gabon and South Africa confirmed 10 cases of Ebola from collected samples.

However, some people had died and were buried before samples could be obtained, he said. Most of the cases were in the village of Kalwamba in Kasai Occidental Province.

A case alert has been reported in nearby Tshikapa. A WHO health team and other partners are yet to collect samples and conduct other medical examinations in the area.

Meanwhile, awareness raising about Ebola is continuing, said provincial health inspector Edmond Mulumba, with the population being encouraged to report those with symptoms such as bleeding, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhoea.

"The population should continue adhering to hygiene measures, wash their hands regularly, use latrines and avoid eating bats or animals found dead in the bush because this is a source of contamination," Mulumba said.

ei/aw/cb

© IRIN. All rights reserved. More humanitarian news and analysis: http://www.IRINnews.org


AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article       Send comments

Emergencies

•  Congo (DR) conflict

MORE >>

NGO latest

•  Congo's displaced: no safe return
ActionAid

•  See Merlin in action on Dispatches
Merlin - UK

•  East Congo: Malteser International extends its relief measures
Malteser International - Germany

•  DR Congo: Malteser International prepares to extend its relief measures
Malteser International - Germany

•  Democratic Republic of the Congo: ICRC calls for respect for civilians in North Kivu
ICRC - Switzerland

MORE >>

Latest news

•  DRC: Ebola outbreak in Kasai Occidental stabilised - WHO

•  South Africa's ANC condemns political attacks

•  UGANDA: New research shows support for medical male circumcision

•  REFILE-ANC calls for tolerance after attacks on supporters

•  Africa delays moves towards federal government

MORE >>
IRIN news

Del.icio.us Del.icio.us  |   Digg Digg  |   NewsVine NewsVine  |   Reddit Reddit   
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2009-01-23T141223Z_01_FOR08_RTRIDSP_2_CONGO-DEMOCRATIC-NKUNDA_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/FOR08.htm

Congolese rebel leader Laurent Nkunda salutes during a rally in Rutshuru, 70 km (45 miles) north of Goma in eastern Congo, November 22, 2008. Rwanda and Congo on January 23, 2009 ...



Disclaimers |  Copyright |  Privacy |  Contact Us |  Feedback |  About Us |  RSS XML

Last updated:Mon Feb 2 15:39:55 2009