"Africa's top public health agency has confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement on Friday that 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases had been recorded so far in the remote Ituri province. The health body said it was convening an urgent meeting with Congo, Uganda, South Sudan and global partners to reinforce cross-border surveillance, preparedness and response efforts."
"It said the cases had mainly been reported in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, with four deaths among laboratory-confirmed cases. "Africa CDC is concerned about the risk of further spread due to the urban context of Bunia and Rwampara, intense population movement, mining-related mobility in Mongwalu," the agency added."
"Later on Friday, Uganda's Health Ministry said that one person had died in the capital Kampala and had posthumously tested positive. All contacts linked to the man had been quarantined, including one high-risk contact who is a close relative of the deceased, the agency said. The man in question was a Congolese national, his remains had been repatriated, the ministry said."
"Kampala described this case, therefore, as "imported" from Congo, and said that Uganda itself "has not yet confirmed a local case." The DRC cases were in the east of the country in the vicinity of Lake Albert and the border to Uganda. The acting director fo the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Jay Bhattacharya, said it was working closely with the DRC Ministry of Health and with authorities in Uganda."
A new Ebola outbreak has been confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases reported in remote Ituri province. Most cases have been identified in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, including four deaths among laboratory-confirmed cases. Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is convening an urgent meeting with Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, and global partners to strengthen cross-border surveillance, preparedness, and response. The agency is concerned about further spread due to urban settings in Bunia and Rwampara, intense population movement, and mining-related mobility in Mongwalu. Uganda reported one death in Kampala with a posthumous positive test, and all linked contacts were quarantined, with the case described as imported from Congo.
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