Ebola: DRC reports rise in confirmed cases, Four frontline health workers discharged
In a follow-up on the Ebola Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Ministère de la Santé RDC reports the response continues in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.
The number of cumulative confirmed Ebola cases has risen to 263 through May 29, with the bulk still in Ituri province (245 or 93%). Confirmed cases in North Kivu is now 15 and in South Kivu it is now 3.
The cumulative deaths among confirmed cases has risen to 42.
In addition, four frontline health workers affected by Ebola in Ituri have been declared fully recovered and received their discharge certificates.
They are four nurses, including a woman working at the Evangelical Medical Center (CME) in Bunia, where they were treated, according to local media.
According to the medical director of the CME, Dr. Calvin Ambitapio, the patients benefited from symptomatic treatment which enabled their recovery.
“We treated them symptomatically by covering the malaria, giving antibiotics and plenty of Ringer’s lactate NaCl solution. On May 26th and 30th, we took two follow-up samples which came back negative. And for us, this is a strength to say that this is a disease that has no treatment, that has no vaccine at the moment, but with symptomatic treatment, we have four recovered. There are even others who have been discharged; we have spoken with the team so that we can call them back in for follow-up. The number of recoveries will increase,” said Dr. Calvin Ambitapio.
Lastly, The Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr. Roger Kamba, expressed optimism regarding the progress of the fight against the Ebola epidemic affecting the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu:
This statement was made during a joint press conference held with the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), who arrived earlier in the day in the capital of Ituri.
“We can finish with this disease in four to six months, defeat it or contain it,” said Dr. Roger Kamba, referring in particular to the incubation period of the virus and the progress made in epidemiological surveillance.
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