Ofure Akhigbe
The Democratic Republic of Congo has confirmed a fresh outbreak of Ebola in southern Kasai, with at least 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths reported.
According to health officials, the index case was a pregnant woman admitted in late August to a hospital in Bulape with bleeding symptoms. She died within a week, after which several hospital staff and laboratory workers who had contact with her also fell ill.
The National Institute of Public Health declared a state of heightened emergency earlier this week following a surge in suspected infections. On Thursday, the Ministry of Health confirmed that Ebola is once again spreading in the region.
Initial reports from provincial authorities listed eight fatalities, but the toll rose rapidly as more patients began to exhibit classic symptoms of Ebola, including high fever, vomiting, and internal and external bleeding.
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons. Early symptoms include fever, fatigue, and muscle aches, which can progress to severe bleeding and organ failure. Caregivers and family members are particularly vulnerable, especially during treatment and burial practices. The disease is often fatal, with mortality rates in past outbreaks reaching nearly 50 percent.
This is the sixteenth Ebola outbreak in Congo since the virus was first identified in 1976. Several of the country’s previous outbreaks have claimed hundreds of lives, underscoring the persistent threat posed by the virus in Central Africa.
Health authorities said the current outbreak was confirmed after the virus was detected in a 34-year-old woman admitted with typical symptoms in August.