Fresh cases of Ebola confirmed in DR Congo

Officials are tracing contacts after a third case of Ebola was confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The patient is a 48-year-old man deemed a “high-risk” contact of the first Ebola patient identified in the DRC’s latest outbreak, who died on April 21, according to an official Twitter post from the WHO Africa Region. “Responders have identified 444 contacts and continue to monitor their health,” it said.

Responders have identified 444 contacts of the confirmed cases and are monitoring their health, the WHO said.

The current outbreak is Congo’s 14th in the history of hemorrhagic fever. The second victim of the virus died on April 25, after experiencing symptoms for more than a week, the WHO said last week. The victim, a 25-year-old woman, was the first casualty’s sister-in-law.

The first patient began experiencing symptoms on April 5 and sought treatment at a local health facility before being admitted to an Ebola treatment centre on April 21 for intensive care, the WHO stated. He died later that day, the organization confirmed.

Health workers started Ebola vaccinations last week in Mbandaka, the capital of Congo’s Equateur province.

Many residents of Mbandaka have taken an Ebola vaccine, according to the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti.

However, people who were vaccinated two years ago when the DRC experienced an outbreak of the virus will be revaccinated, Moeti added.