Congo’s health officials are sounding the alarm after a cluster of Ebola-like illnesses claimed multiple lives in Kasai province.
On Thursday, Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba confirmed that 28 people are showing symptoms consistent with Ebola and that 15 of them have died, most in the town of Boulapé. “To date, the provisional report shows 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including 14 in Boulapé and 1 in Mweka, as well as four health care workers,” Kamba said.
The ministry estimates a fatality rate of roughly 53.6%, underscoring what could become the country’s 16th Ebola outbreak.
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The only laboratory-confirmed case so far involves a 34-year-old pregnant woman in Boulapé. Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe bleeding have been reported across the suspected cases. Investigations and further testing are ongoing.
The World Health Organization announced that it has mobilized experts and Congo’s Rapid Response Team to intensify surveillance, bolster infection prevention, and supply personal protective equipment, mobile laboratories, and medicines.
“We’re acting with determination to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and protect communities,” said Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO’s Africa director, in an AP report.
According to medical experts, Ebola spreads through bodily fluids, including blood, vomit, or semen, and causes a rare yet often fatal illness, making swift containment vital.
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