The Health Ministry of the Republic of Congo reported on Thursday that the current ebola outbreak in the country’s northwestern Cuvette Ouest Department is stabilising, with 29 deaths among 42 registered cases to date.
According to Damaze Bozongo, director general of the Health Ministry, since December 2 no further deaths had been registered in either Mbomo or Mbanza, two villages that were among the worst-affected in Cuvette Ouest, 800km north of the capital, Brazzaville.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) meanwhile reported that other suspect cases are still under investigation, while 47 people who came into contact with infected individuals are being monitored. It added that surveillance and social mobilisation activities are also continuing.
The WHO said the current outbreak originated in Mbanza, about 15km from Mbomo, when a family consumed a dead wild boar they had found in the forest, with the first death occurring on October 16.
On November 14, the Congolese Ministry of Health, together with the WHO, confirmed that the outbreak of acute haemorrhagic fever syndrome in Mbomo District was, in fact, the ebola virus.
On June 5 2003, the last outbreak of acute haemorrhagic fever syndrome, which was determined to have been the ebola virus, was declared over by the Health Ministry. According to the WHO, 128 people out of 143 confirmed cases died during that epidemic, which ensued following the handling and consumption of dead gorillas. — Irin