Lara Adejoro
The World Health Organisation has reported a new Ebola outbreak near Mbandaka, in the western Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at least four persons have died from the haemorrhagic fever.
In a tweet on Monday, Dr. Ghebreyesus said the country is also in the final phase of battling Ebola in eastern DRC, amid COVID-19 and a measles outbreak.
He tweeted: “A new #Ebola outbreak detected in western #DRC, near Mbandaka, Équateur province. @MinSanteRDC has identified 6 cases, of which 4 people have died. The country is also in the final phase of battling Ebola in eastern DRC, #COVID19 & the world’s largest measles outbreak.
“@WHO already has staff in Mbandaka, #DRC supporting the new #Ebola outbreak response.
This outbreak is a reminder that #COVID19 is not the only health threat people face. WHO is continuing to monitor & respond to many health emergencies.”
WHO says vaccines to protect against Ebola are under development and have been used to help control the spread of Ebola outbreaks in Guinea and the DRC.
“Early supportive care with rehydration, symptomatic treatment improves survival. There is no licensed treatment proven to neutralize the virus but a range of blood, immunological and drug therapies are under development.
“Pregnant and breastfeeding women with Ebola should be offered early supportive care. Likewise, vaccine prevention and experimental treatment should be offered under the same conditions as for non-pregnant population,” the world health body noted.
