Kinshasa, May 16 (SANA) The Democratic Republic of Congo has declared a new Ebola outbreak in its eastern Ituri Province, reporting 80 deaths and 246 suspected cases, the Health Ministry said Saturday.
Laboratory tests have confirmed eight cases of the Bundibugyo strain in the health zones of Rwampara, Mongwalu, and Bunia.
Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said the strain currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, and that its case fatality rate can reach 50%. He said the first confirmed case was a nurse who later died at Bunia Medical Center after exhibiting symptoms including fever, vomiting, hemorrhaging, and severe weakness.
Authorities have activated the country’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center and deployed rapid response teams, while strengthening surveillance, testing, and contact tracing measures.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said it is concerned about the risk of wider spread due to high population movement in the affected region and its proximity to Uganda and South Sudan. The World Health Organization (WHO) has allocated $500,000 from its emergency fund to support containment efforts.
KhA / AbdRh
