This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6990759.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Major Ebola outbreak in DR Congo | Major Ebola outbreak in DR Congo |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been confirmed by the World Health Organization in Kasai province. | An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been confirmed by the World Health Organization in Kasai province. |
| At least 166 people have died and WHO says it is aware of 372 other cases. | At least 166 people have died and WHO says it is aware of 372 other cases. |
| Specialist laboratories in Gabon and Atlanta in the US confirmed Ebola from blood samples, saying they also showed the presence of Shigella dysentery. | Specialist laboratories in Gabon and Atlanta in the US confirmed Ebola from blood samples, saying they also showed the presence of Shigella dysentery. |
| Ebola is highly contagious. People contracting the disease suffer severe stomach pain and internal bleeding. | Ebola is highly contagious. People contracting the disease suffer severe stomach pain and internal bleeding. |
| The fatality rate for Ebola, which has no known cure, is as high as 90%. | The fatality rate for Ebola, which has no known cure, is as high as 90%. |
| WHO and Medecins sans Frontieres have despatched medical personnel to help the Congolese contain the outbreak. | WHO and Medecins sans Frontieres have despatched medical personnel to help the Congolese contain the outbreak. |
| An emergency response team of clinicians, water and sanitation experts and logisticians is on the way to organise clinical care and establish appropriate isolation facilities. | An emergency response team of clinicians, water and sanitation experts and logisticians is on the way to organise clinical care and establish appropriate isolation facilities. |
| Quarantine | Quarantine |
| WHO has also requested additional support from the global outbreak alert and response network, and says specialised laboratories in Gabon, Canada and the US will share the analysis. | WHO has also requested additional support from the global outbreak alert and response network, and says specialised laboratories in Gabon, Canada and the US will share the analysis. |
| They say there could be a "possible concurrent outbreak of another etiology". | They say there could be a "possible concurrent outbreak of another etiology". |
| It is three months since people started falling sick from a mystery virus in several villages around Kananga, the capital of West Kasai region. | It is three months since people started falling sick from a mystery virus in several villages around Kananga, the capital of West Kasai region. |
| Several villages are under quarantine, but WHO says so far there is no need for any further restrictions on travel or trade with DR Congo. | Several villages are under quarantine, but WHO says so far there is no need for any further restrictions on travel or trade with DR Congo. |
| The incident is the worst for several years and is likely to have serious consequences for some time to come - even if the spread has been contained. | The incident is the worst for several years and is likely to have serious consequences for some time to come - even if the spread has been contained. |
| It is thought to be transmitted through the consumption of infected bush meat and can also be spread by contact with the blood secretions of infected people. | It is thought to be transmitted through the consumption of infected bush meat and can also be spread by contact with the blood secretions of infected people. |
| DR Congo's last major Ebola outbreak killed more than 200 people in 1995 in Kikwit, about 400km (249 miles) west of the current outbreak. | DR Congo's last major Ebola outbreak killed more than 200 people in 1995 in Kikwit, about 400km (249 miles) west of the current outbreak. |
| The last major incidence of the disease was in Uganda in 2001 when more than 400 cases were reported and more than half of the patients died. | The last major incidence of the disease was in Uganda in 2001 when more than 400 cases were reported and more than half of the patients died. |
| Uganda has issued a red alert to border posts neighbouring the DR Congo and has instructed staff at Entebbe international airport to be on the look out for passengers who show symptoms of fever. |