Central Africa
Ebola outbreak in Congo Brazzaville confirmed

afrol News, 18 February - Congolese authorities today confirmed that the epidemic ravaging central parts of the country indeed is Ebola. 59 persons are already reported to have died of the virus infection, which is spreading in an isolated part of the Congolese rain forests. 

As of this day, there are suspicions of 73 infections and 59 deaths caused by the Ebola epidemic in the isolated districts of Mbomo and Kellé, north-west in Congo Brazzaville, close to the Gabonese border.

The government in Brazzaville today officially announced that the deaths were the result of an Ebola outbreak. A laboratory in Libreville in neighbouring Gabon had confirmed the presence of Ebola virus in blood samples from de deceased. The Libreville laboratory is one of the few worldwide with competence on isolating the Ebola virus. 

The Congolese further has asked for assistance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to control the outbreak. A team of specialists, which normally moves out when there are reports of an Ebola outbreak, already is said to have arrived in the region, WHO informs. More experts and health care personnel were expected within short time.

Even if the confirmation of Ebola virus in the blood samples of the deceased only has come today, Congolese authorities and health workers have based their work on an Ebola suspicion for a longer time. The Brazzaville government has already prohibited all travel from and to the regions. Gabon has closed its border with the affected districts. 

Reports of suspected and confirmed Ebola infections have so far only come from the small districts of Mbomo and Kellé, north-west in Congo Brazzaville. The districts are located in dense rain forests, connected to the outside world by a dirt road only passable with robust vehicles. The heaviest rainy season in the area is now set to begin, making the road close to impassable. The town of Kellé however has a small airfield. 

Gabonese health authorities so far have not detected Ebola cases on their side of the border. The poor road connections between Gabon and the affected Congolese districts somewhat decrease the possibilities of having the outbreak crossing the border. On the other hand, it is completely impossible to seal off the border. 

Gabon and Congo Brazzaville experienced their last Ebola outbreak only last year. That epidemic however had its epicentre in Gabon, right across the border from the current outbreak in Congo Brazzaville. More than 50 persons were killed in last year's outbreak, meaning that the current outbreak seems to be one of the larger ones in the region. 

There is no specific treatment or vaccine for the disease, which is often characterized by the sudden onset of fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, limited kidney and liver functions, and both internal and external bleeding. 

The virus, which was first discovered in the 1970s, has two different strains, characterised by their different mortality rates. The South Sudan strain usually hits in East Africa, has a mortality rate of around 50 percent but is the most contagious. The so-called Zaire strain of the virus is the most lethal, with a mortality rate of 70-90%. This is however somewhat less contagious, meaning that outbreaks burn out quicker and totally leave a lower death toll. 

During the last years, it has also been shown that the response to an Ebola outbreak is decisive to control the death toll. Quick and massive actions from authorities and international health workers may hinder an uncontrolled spread of the outbreak, while an adequate health care and extra nutrition of the infected may decrease mortality.

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