The Advocate. One hundred people have now died from an Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo with health authorities struggling to contain the deadly disease in the area near the borders with Uganda and Rwanda.
A total of 149 cases of the deadly haemorrhagic fever have been reported in the region, with 118 confirmed and 31 probable, Congo’s health ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
Of those 40 cases were cured and health authorities have vaccinated 11,417 people since August 8.
Authorities have struggled to contain the disease in North Kivu province, which borders Uganda and Rwanda. Ongoing conflict, the movement of thousands of internally displaced people and cross-border travel has made it difficult to manage the outbreak.
On Sunday, health activities were suspended after residents in the city of Beni took to the streets to protest against insecurity in the region, the ministry said.
At least 14 people were killed when the Allied Democratic Forces rebel group attacked the outskirts of the city on Saturday evening.
In another case, a patient with a confirmed Ebola infection escaped from hospital before being transferred to a treatment centre, according to ministry. When the patient was found in an unsecured village, authorities had to negotiate with the chief to secure their safe transfer.
The outbreak of the deadly virus began shortly after the country’s government in June declared an end to another outbreak – in the west of the country – and lauded those involved for managing to swiftly contain the spread of the disease.
Prophetic Link
“And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” Luke 21:11.