Ebola Outbreak in Congo Kills 15; Nigeria's NCDC Readies Itself - JolibaLive

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have declared a new ebola-outbreak/">Ebola outbreak in Kasai Province.

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Thursday that 28 suspected or probable cases have been reported, including 15 deaths. Four of the victims were healthcare workers.

The index case was a 34-year-old pregnant woman from Boulapé in the Mweka health zone. She was admitted to hospital on August 20 and died five days later from multiple organ failure. Tests confirmed the Zaire strain of Ebola virus, the deadliest form of the disease.

Dr. Boureima Hama Sambo, WHO Representative in the DRC, warned: “This outbreak is a stark reminder that Ebola remains a formidable threat in the DRC. We are working closely with national authorities to rapidly deploy teams and essential supplies to Kasai Province to stop further spread.”

Response Efforts Underway

The Ministry of Health has dispatched a Rapid Response Team, with WHO providing two tonnes of supplies, including protective gear, diagnostic kits, and mobile labs. Investigations suggest a cluster linked to the index case, but surveillance continues.

WHO also confirmed 2,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine are on standby, alongside therapeutic treatments.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is reinforcing the effort with field epidemiologists and data experts.

Africa CDC stressed: “Our priority is to break chains of transmission and protect frontline health workers, who are disproportionately affected in this outbreak.”

This is the 16th Ebola outbreak in the DRC since 1976. The last, in Equateur Province in 2022, was contained in three months.

Ebola, which spreads through contact with bodily fluids, carries a case fatality rate averaging 50%, but some DRC outbreaks have seen mortality as high as 90%.

Health officials caution that numbers may rise as investigations continue. Efforts now focus on case management, contact tracing, safe burials, and community engagement.

Nigeria Readies Itself

Responding to the situation in a fellow African country, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) issued an advisory.

NCDC Director General, Jide Idris, on Saturday, confirmed that there are no confirmed cases of Ebola infection in the country at the moment.

The NCDC boss also reminded Nigerians that the Ebola Zaire strain responsible for this outbreak has an approved vaccine, Ervebo, which is effective in preventing infection.

“We will continue to monitor the regional and global situations. There are no cases of Ebola virus disease in Nigeria, as of now,” he said.

However, the NCDC advisory listed Key Preventive Measures to include:
Wash hands frequently with soap & running water
Avoid contact with sick individuals showing symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhoea & bleeding
Avoid bushmeat and ensure all animal products are well-cooked
Healthcare workers: maintain high IPC standards & use PPE

It asked “anyone with recent travel to affected areas who experiences symptoms, call 6232 or your State Ministry of Health hotline immediately.”

With the outbreak still in its early stages and the toll mounting, shouldn’t health authorities be acting faster to prevent a wider crisis in Kasai and beyond?

With the outbreak still in its early stages and the toll mounting, shouldn't health authorities be acting faster to prevent a wider crisis in Kasai and beyond?x

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