Minister of public health, hygiene, and social welfare for the Democratic Republic of Congo Roger Kamba, during a press conference on Friday, confirmed 225 active Ebola cases recorded since the start of the epidemic, with five people ‘expected’ to recover after authorities received a negative initial assessment.
“We will now begin to remove all non-Ebola cases from the figures, and this number will increase tomorrow as our teams in the laboratory finish processing the remaining samples,” Kamba said during his visit to Bunia.
The official also announced that lab experts are finalising the analysis of the latest case samples in order to update the country’s epidemiological data and to help distinguish confirmed cases of Ebola from other diseases.
“However, more and more people will be declared recovered. Tomorrow or the day after, we will announce five recoveries because we have received negative initial tests after treatment, and we are awaiting the second test to confirm their recovery,” Kamba added.
He also stated that starting Friday, it is mandatory for health officials to wear protective equipment at all times following a confirmed female laboratory worker who had been infected and developed symptoms earlier.
“I think that in terms of equipment, medicines, and the capacity to respond to those we receive, the constant stream of cargo planes arriving allows us to be more reassured about our patients,” the minister added.
The announcement comes after the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is in the DRC and scheduled to visit the epicentre in Bunia on Saturday.
Ghebreyesus also appealed to the armed groups fighting in the area to declare a ceasefire so that health workers can reach people and halt the further spread of the disease.
An Ebola outbreak was declared by the DRC and Uganda on May 15 after laboratory tests confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease. WHO named it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17.
As of May 21, the WHO said the DRC had reported 83 confirmed cases, including nine deaths, as well as 746 suspected cases and 176 suspected deaths. Later reporting put the toll at more than 900 suspected cases and around 220 suspected deaths.
Uganda has temporarily closed its borders with the DRC, except for Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, cargo, food transportation, and security personnel, all of which are subject to strict screening procedures.
Source: Viory
