Democratic Republic of Congo or DRC health authorities are stepping up their efforts in trying to prevent a possible outspread of the Ebola virus. They are doing so as the WHO declared that the country is facing an epidemic.
The latest reports from the organization show that the number of cases rose to 37 from the previous 29. Also, the WHO considers that a fourth person may have also died, besides the three suspected and/or confirmed cases.
DRC Health Authorities Will Expand their Epidemiological Surveillance
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the DRC was facing an outbreak on May 12th, after the Congolese Ministry of Health confirmed the death of one of the confirmed Ebola patients. Since April 22nd, 37 suspected cases of an Ebola infection were reported.
Now, the local DRC health authorities will be extending their efforts in trying to stop a possible spreading. The first reported death occurred in the Likati health district, situated in the Aketi, Bas-Uélé province. This is a remote forested region, located about 1,400 kilometers to the N-E of Kinshasa, the capital city.
Families have been leaving the area in trying to escape an infection. But this is also raising concerns as they may be unknowingly and unwillingly carrying the Ebola virus.
So, DRC health authorities from North-Ubangi decided to expand their epidemiological surveillance. This will now include the Wapinda zone, situated some 2 kilometers from the Likati health district.
“The three health areas that constitute the epicentre of the disease are located within 2km of the Wapinda health district,” Davos Davene is quoted as saying.
The doctor is the head of the North Ubangi provincial division of health. Dr. Davene did confirm the finalization of a contingency plan at a provincial level. This will try and prevent the killer disease and its expansion.
The isolation of the Likati health district, as well as its low population density, have been contributing to the yet limited spread of the Ebola virus. The fact that the local population is almost entirely self-sufficient also influenced the outspread.
Still, health authorities have sent mobile laboratories in the region for quicker testing potentially affected people. They are also monitoring the 416 people to come into contact with the sufferers.
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