65 deaths from the Ebola virus were recorded in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, out of 246 suspected cases as part of the outbreak of the virus in the region, according to the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed yesterday, Friday.
A statement from these centers – the highest public health body in Africa – stated that they would hold an emergency meeting with Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, and global partners to enhance cross-border surveillance, preparedness and response efforts.
She added that deaths and suspected cases were mainly reported in the Mongowalo and Rumbara regions, while 4 deaths were reported among laboratory-confirmed cases. Suspected cases were also reported in Bunia, the provincial capital.
The centers said that preliminary results indicate the presence of another strain of the virus other than the “Zaire strain.”
She explained that she is concerned “about the risk of further spread of the virus due to the urban context in Bunia and Rumbara, as well as the intense population movement and movement associated with mining in the affected areas located near Uganda and South Sudan.”
Zaire dynasty
Jean-Jacques Muyembe, the Congolese virologist who co-discovered the Ebola virus and heads the National Institute for Biomedical Research in Kinshasa, said that all but one of Congo’s previous outbreaks of the disease – 16 cases – were caused by the “Zaire strain.”
He added that identifying a different strain would complicate response efforts, as current treatments and vaccines are being developed to combat the “Zaire strain.”
The Director General of the Centers, Jean Cassia, considered – in the statement – that rapid regional coordination is necessary, given the heavy population movement between the affected areas and neighboring countries.
Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said – in a press conference yesterday, Friday – that the organization learned of the existence of suspected cases on May 5, and sent a team to Ituri to assist in the investigation, while the samples – collected from the field – were initially negative.
Ghebreyesus added that a laboratory in Kinshasa confirmed the presence of positive cases last Thursday, and the total number of confirmed cases has now reached 13.
He continued that the World Health Organization has allocated $500,000 from its emergency fund to support the response, including surveillance, contact tracing, testing, and care.