Ebola continues to spread New cases of illness in the Congo confirmed

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Further Ebola cases confirmed

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo Ebola continues to spread. According to the country's Minister of Health, three new cases were confirmed. The World Health Organization (WHO) speaks of a worrying development.

More and more Ebola cases

In the Congo Ebola continues to spread. The dangerous infectious disease has now reached the metropolis of Mbandaka, where three new Ebola cases were confirmed, as the Ministry of Health of the African country announced. According to media reports, the ministry currently estimates a total of 43 possible cases. According to the information, the virus was clearly detected in 17 cases, in another 21 the authorities considered the Ebola infection probable and in five cases possible. So far, 25 people have died of the disease in the African country.

In the Congo, further Ebola cases were confirmed. The infectious disease is apparently spreading further and further. In the African country, the fear of an epidemic is growing. (Image: Syda Productions / fotolia.com)

Fear of epidemic

On the African continent there are always Ebola outbreaks.

In 2016 alone, more than 28,600 people in West Africa were affected by the most severe outbreak to date. 11,300 deaths were reported at the end of this epidemic.

Experts say it's probably only a matter of time before the next one comes. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned some time ago that a new Ebola outbreak is inevitable.

Worrying development

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo the fear of an epidemic is great.

"The arrival of Ebola in an urban area is very worrying, and WHO and its partners are working together to speed up the search for all contacts in the confirmed case in the Mbandaka area," said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, in a press release.

The WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke of a "disturbing development," but also said that there are now better options than ever to fight Ebola.

"WHO and our partners are taking determined action to stop the virus from spreading further," said the expert.

Illness is often deadly

Ebola has so far only occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. However, during the last Ebola epidemic in West Africa, individual cases were also imported to the US and Europe.

Early Ebola symptoms are nonspecific and resemble a flu infection. This can lead to fever, malaise, fatigue and body aches.

"After 3 to 10 days, pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may be added," explains the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on its website.

"In the course of the disease may appear other symptoms: redness of the conjunctiva, head and chest pain, joint and muscle pain, difficulty swallowing, internal and external hemorrhage (hemorrhage), delirium and respiratory distress," it continues.

According to the experts, the disease - depending on the responsible for the outbreak virus - in 30 to 90 percent of cases fatal.

Transmission from person to person

The Ebola virus is transmitted from person to person.

As the RKI explains, transmission occurs through direct physical contact with Ebola patients or those who have died, especially through direct contact with their bodily fluids, such as blood, saliva, sweat, urine, stools or vomit.

In addition, a transmission over a period of time is also possible on objects that have come into contact with infectious fluids.

And even when in contact with infected animals or infectious animal products, the Ebola virus can be transmitted to humans.

An approved vaccine against the dangerous disease is not yet available. (Ad)