/ 12 January 2009

WHO: No cases of Ebola in Angola

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has not spread into neighbouring Angola, an official with the World Health Organisation (WHO) said Monday on state radio.

”At the moment there’s no evidence of the virus of extending into Angola. There is no reason for alarm,” said Luis Gomes Sambo, WHO regional director for Africa.

He spoke after meeting Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos in Luanda to update him on the Ebola outbreak, which is suspected to have killed at least 14 people and infected 43 in the central DRC since it was first detected two months ago.

Angola has shut down its north and eastern border with DRC to protect its population from any spread of the virus.

Ebola is fatal in about 50% to 90% of cases, with victims bleeding from body orifices before dying in the most severe instances. — Sapa-AFP