Africa’s top public health agency have revealed that there was a confirmed Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement issued today that it was convening an urgent meeting with Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, South Sudan and global partners to reinforce cross-border surveillance, preparedness and response efforts.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said that about 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths had been reported, mainly in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, while four deaths had been reported among laboratory-confirmed cases.
The Public Health Agency said initial findings suggested the presence of a non-Zaire strain of the virus, with sequencing ongoing to further characterise it.
Ebola virus disease is a severe and often fatal ans it spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated materials or persons who have died from the disease.
