Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have confirmed a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Kasai Province, where suspected cases and deaths have been mounting over the past two weeks.
The World Health Organization said it received an alert from Congo’s Ministry of Health on Sept. 1 about suspected cases in the Bulape health zone. The first known patient, a 34-weeks pregnant woman, was admitted to Bulape General Reference Hospital on Aug. 20. She had fever, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, bleeding and fatigue that progressed to multiple organ failure. She died five days later, on Aug. 25.
Two health workers who treated her developed similar symptoms and also died, officials said.
By Thursday, Sept. 4, health authorities in Kinshasa had declared an outbreak of the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus. They reported 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths in Bulape health zone, including four health-care workers. The case fatality rate is estimated at 54 percent.
Samples from several patients have been sent to Congo’s National Public Health Laboratory in Kinshasa for testing.
Uganda’s Ministry of Health said it is closely watching developments across the border. Henry Kyobe Bosa, the incident commander, said a formal risk assessment will guide decisions about how to prevent the virus from entering Uganda.
“The free movement between the two countries, back and forth, remains, which poses a challenge of importation,” he said. “As soon as the risk assessment is done, we shall put in place interventions.”
Most of the suspected cases are adults — about 80 percent are 15 years or older, according to WHO. Cases have been reported in three areas of Bulape health zone — Bulape, Bulape Com and Dikolo — as well as in neighboring Mweka health zone.
Ebola is among the world’s most severe viral diseases, spread through contact with blood, secretions or other bodily fluids from an infected person, or with contaminated surfaces. The incubation period ranges from two to 21 days, though symptoms usually appear within a week to 11 days. People are not contagious until symptoms begin, but the risk of transmission increases as the illness worsens.
This is Congo’s 16th Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in the country in 1976. WHO has warned that cases could climb further as health workers trace contacts and expand surveillance in Kasai.
