Submit this form
Home News Videos Music Photos Facebook Twitter Friends Newsletter Podcasts Mobile RSS
Ebola outbreak "contained" - Kabila

11:01 AM


Photo: Independent Electoral Commission (CEI)
President Joseph Kabila says the Ebola outbreak has been contained
KINSHASA, 14 September 2007 (IRIN) - Measures have been taken to prevent the spread of Ebola following the deaths of at least 160 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo's southern province of Kasai Occidental during the past two months, President Joseph Kabila said.

"The village of Kampungu [the worst affected] has been quarantined to prevent population movement towards Kananga," Kabila told reporters on 13 September. Kananga is the main town in the province.

"The situation is at the moment, I cannot say under control, but at least the problem has been contained very well in the area," he said. "There is no risk that the whole country will be affected," said Kabila.

Health experts had been deployed to Kananga on 12 September, the health minister, Victor Makwenge Kaput, said.

This followed the analysis of blood samples from five infected people at the referral laboratory in Franceville, Gabon, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the USA, and the national institute for biomedical research (l'Institut national de récherche bio-medicale), which confirmed the outbreak of the Ebola haemorrhagic fever.

According to Kaput, the crisis committee, made up of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC, was conducting investigations to confirm whether all the deaths had been caused by the Ebola virus after cases of shingles and dysentery were confirmed.

More doctors needed

After the arrival of CDC health experts, local health personnel numbers in the affected areas were boosted, but Kaput said more doctors, epidemiologists, nurses and medical supplies were needed to isolate all suspected cases.

"It is necessary that we continue with the action on the ground," said Kaput, who is also coordinating aid donations from WHO and other partners.

A health team from South Africa is also expected to join the control operation.

Meanwhile, Kaput said an evaluation would be carried out to determine how the epidemic evolved, with two new cases being detected in Kananga, 100km to the southeast.

One of the suspected cases was that of a trader from Mweka, one of the worst affected parts of the province.

At least 395 people, including the fatalities, have been affected in the province, according to the provincial health inspector, Jean-Constantin Kanow.

ei/aw/cb/mw


Related articles


  1. 'Deadly environment' plus 'political and social' obstacles hinder Ebola fight, Security Council hears (July 24, 2019)
  2. Ebola outbreak declared an international Public Health Emergency (July 17, 2019)
  3. Felix Tshisekedi Sworn In as DR Congo President (January 24, 2019)
  4. Constitutional Court Declares Tshisekedi Winner of Presidential Election (January 19, 2019)
  5. Felix Tshisekedi Vows to Be the President of All Congolese (January 10, 2019)
  6. Felix Tshisekedi Elected DR Congo President (January 10, 2019)
  7. DR Congo Delays Results of December Election (January 6, 2019)
  8. Botswana Urges Joseph Kabila to Step Down (February 26, 2018)
  9. No elections in DR Congo in December without electronic voting machines: INEC (February 13, 2018)
  10. US Warns DR Congo Against Electronic Voting for Delayed Election (February 12, 2018)
  11. Felix Tshisekedi accuses INEC of illegally prolonging Kabila's mandate (October 24, 2017)
  12. DRC Seeks Arrest of Presidential Candidate Moise Katumbi (May 19, 2016)
  13. Papa Wemba Is Buried in Kinshasa (May 4, 2016)
  14. Papa Wemba Awarded Highest National Honor as Thousands Pay Tribute (May 2, 2016)
  15. Rights Groups: DR Congo Must Free Pro-democracy Activists (April 13, 2015)
  16. Police Open Fire on Crowd Protesting Election Law Change (January 19, 2015)
  17. DR Congo: The country that knows how to beat Ebola (December 11, 2014)
  18. Ebola Epidemic Resurfaces in DR Congo's Equateur Province (August 25, 2014)
  19. Etienne Tshisekedi Evacuated to Belgium for Medical Treatment (August 16, 2014)
  20. Kerry Calls on Kabila to Honor Constitution (May 4, 2014)
  21. Kerry in DR Congo for Security Talks (May 3, 2014)
  22. At least 60 killed as train derails in Katanga province (April 23, 2014)
  23. DR Congo Takes Chairmanship of COMESA at Summit in Kinshasa (February 26, 2014)
  24. DR Congo Honors Nelson Mandela, Hero and Model for Humanity (December 6, 2013)
  25. Kabila Congratulates Congo Army for Defeating M23 Rebels (October 30, 2013)
  26. DR Congo Eases Process for Starting a New Business (June 3, 2013)
  27. Regional Leaders Sign DR Congo Peace Deal (February 24, 2013)
  28. The M23 Rebels Want to Overthrow Kabila? Nonsense (November 28, 2012)
  29. Protests Against M23 Rebels, Government and UN Spread (November 22, 2012)
  30. Thousands Protest M23 Capture of Goma, Turn on Government and UN (November 21, 2012)


Live TV Congo Radio en ligne Radio
Available on App Store
Get it on Google Play



Contact Us | About Us | Édition en Français | French Edition

© CongoPlanet.com. All rights reserved.