At least 15 people have died in a new Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, the Ministry of Health confirmed. The outbreak is centered in Kasai province and marks the country’s 16th since the virus first appeared in 1976. Officials said it began when a 34-year-old pregnant woman was admitted to hospital with fever and vomiting. She tested positive for the Zaire strain of Ebola and died hours later from multiple organ failure.
Authorities have reported 28 suspected cases, including four health workers. They warned that numbers may rise as transmission continues. Officials urged communities to adopt preventive measures such as frequent handwashing and social distancing. The World Health Organization said it is working with response teams to trace contacts and provide care. WHO stressed that quick action is essential to stop further spread.
The Ministry confirmed that DR Congo holds a stockpile of treatments, including 2,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine. The vaccine has proved effective against the Zaire strain. The last Ebola outbreak in 2022 killed six people, while the epidemic from 2018 to 2020 claimed more than 2,000 lives.
Ebola likely originated in fruit bats and spreads through direct contact with blood, vomit, feces, or other bodily fluids from an infected person. Symptoms include high fever, vomiting, and internal bleeding. The virus remains one of the deadliest public health threats in central Africa.
This Ebola outbreak in DR Congo shows how fragile health systems remain in conflict-hit areas despite progress in vaccines and treatment.
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