Health officials of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recently announced that the country is facing another outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus.
Ebola Outbreak in Mbandaka, Equateur Province
According to the World Health Organization, the initial case was detected in the city of Mbandaka. The places located in the republic's northwest Equateur Province and near the city are currently on high alert.
WHO experts said in a press release that the recorded cases from the same province sum up to three outbreaks already in such a short time since 2018, and the surge of Ebola detection this month marks the 14th outbreak in the country since 1976.
WHO-Africa regional director Matshidiso Moeti explained that the time is not sufficient to combat the virus. The first cases of the disease emerged two weeks ahead of the detection, and the health sector of the country is still exerting its efforts to catch up with the spread.
The Democratic Republic of Congo health authorities, fortunately, include specialists that contain more knowledge and experience compared to others in battling and controlling Ebola outbreaks through a quick and effective approach, Moeti continued.
WHO said that only a single case was confirmed so far. The individual who was identified with Ebola was a man in his early 30s. According to a report by CNN, the patient began experiencing symptoms of the disease on April 5.
The Ebola patient immediately went to a medical facility for consultation and treatment after experiencing an unusual state for over a week.
When the sickness did not disappear, the patient was admitted to a center that specializes in treatments for Ebola on April 21. But prior to being given intensive care solutions, the man died the same day.
State of Ebola Virus Disease in DRC
Health workers from the facility took samples from the case and recognized right away the Ebola virus. Samples were also sent from the city for further testing, WHO reports.
The organization explained that there are current efforts relayed to prevent the outbreak from surging. Included in the national response initiatives in the following weeks are vaccination drives to cater protection to the region's population.
Most of the Mbandaka citizens were already administered vaccination against the Ebola virus. Moeti said that people who received the treatment will be affected with just a subtle or no impact from the disease.
The groups who were vaccinated in 2020 will be given another vaccine session, Moeti added.
The deceased Ebola patient was given a proper burial through a 'safe and dignified' approach. This process includes strict health protocols to prevent further cases by the remains while keeping the solemnity of traditional funeral ceremonies.
WHO said that the individuals who came in close contact with the patient will be monitored. The places in the facility where the patient stayed are already contaminated.
In recent years, the Equateur Province experienced separate Ebola outbreaks. There were approximately 130 cases of the disease confirmed back in the outbreak last 2020, and 54 cases in 2018.
Ebola is a disease that could severely endanger the health of primates and humans. The case fatality from the disease jumped between 25 percent to 90 percent in the past outbreaks. Thankfully, there are already modern solutions that could treat patients from the illness, giving a much higher survival rate compared to the past.
DRC is the largest hotspot of Ebola cases in Central Africa. The virus has already taken the lives of over 2,000 people after a series of outbreaks between 2018 and 2020.
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