By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
In a follow-up on a second Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Équateur Province in the western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported on June 1, the World Health Organization (WHO) now reports a total of 12 cases (9 confirmed and 3 probable) with six deaths as of Saturday.
This is the 11th EVD outbreak in the country since 1976.
The cases/deaths have been reported in three affected health zones: Bikoro (1 confirmed; 1 death), Mbandaka (6 confirmed, 3 probable; 1 death) and Wangata (2 confirmed; 1 death).
The WHO reported today new genetic sequence analysis the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) has found that the newly-identified Ebola virus circulating in the Equateur Province in western DRC is different from the one which has infected more than 3400 people in the eastern part of the country.
“We are not surprised to find no link between the current outbreak in Mbandaka and the two previous ones. The ongoing Ebola outbreaks are far apart and there is a flight ban in place due to COVID-19,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa.
Measles in DRC: One of many outbreaks ravaging the country
The EVD outbreak in eastern DRC (the 10th outbreak reported in the country since 1976) has resulted in 3,463 cases and 2,280 deaths since August 2018.
The 42-day countdown to the declaration of the end of the EVD outbreak continues since its launch on 14 May 2020.
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