Mbabane: A new Ebola outbreak has been detected in the western DRC near Mbandala, Equateur province. Six (6) cases of Ebola have been identified and four (4) people have lost their lives to the disease.
Ministry of Health in DRC confirmed the outbreak of the disease in the country’s province called Equateur on Monday. The province’s governor Bobo Boloko Boluhubu said the new cases were found in the Equateur province which is a home to over 1 million people and it is the important port city at the confluence of Congo and Ruki rivers, which are heavily plied of trade and transport.
The province last saw cases of Ebola in 2018 between May and July and 33 people died while 21 recovered from the disease.
World Health Organization Director General Tendros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak is a reminder that COVID-19 is not the only health treat people are facing. There has been no COVID-19 cases confirmed in the Equateur province though there over 3000 coronavirus cases confirmed in the entire country of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Dr Tendros said the world health body already has staff in Mbandaka to assist in the Ebola outbreak response. He added that WHO will continue to monitor and respond to the health emergencies.
