At least 15 people have died in a new outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country's health ministry reports. The outbreak began with a 34-year-old pregnant woman who exhibited symptoms like high fever and persistent vomiting and died shortly after being admitted to the hospital.
This event marks the 16th documented outbreak of Ebola in the vast central African nation, which continues to struggle with poor healthcare services and ongoing conflicts in the eastern region. The outbreak is currently located in the central Kasai province, where 28 suspected cases have been recorded.
Health officials have emphasized the importance of adhering to strict preventive measures, including frequent handwashing and social distancing, particularly in high-risk areas. Testing has confirmed that the Zaire strain of Ebola, a rare yet frequently lethal disease, is responsible for this outbreak.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed its commitment to swiftly address the crisis to prevent further infections, with the organization reporting that four of the 15 deceased were health workers. Response teams and local teams will work to locate individuals who may need care and ensure they are protected as quickly as possible, the WHO stated.
Fortunately, DR Congo possesses a stockpile of Ebola treatments, including 2,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, deemed essential for protection against this strain of the virus. Recent outbreaks have varied in severity; prior to this, the last Ebola incident occurred three years ago, resulting in six deaths, while a significant outbreak from 2018 to 2020 took the lives of over 2,000 individuals.
First identified in the late 1970s near the Ebola River in what is now DR Congo, the virus typically transmits through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons. In light of increasing cases, local authorities are on high alert, with enhanced monitoring and response strategies being implemented to curb the virus's spread.
