Casualty figures are soaring, as Health officials confirmed another outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
as at the last count, a conservative estimate put the figure of the dead at 17, even though there is fear that there may be many unconfirmed cases.
Within the Central African region, Ebola has struck not less than eight times, with the last recorded outbreak claiming the lives of 8 people.
However, the worst of Ebola was seen two years ago when it claimed about 11,300 lives and infected about 28,600 while spreading across Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Health, a dispatch of well-trained human resource personnel will be sent to aid an almost-immediate control of the outbreak.
The Ebola virus is believed to be carried by bats which are immune to its deadly effect, but spread it to bushmeat, from where it spreads to humans.
About 21 patients were reported with signs of hemorrhagic fever, 17 of whom later died as a result.
According to the ministry, a team of medical personnel was sent to obtain samples, of which two (out of the five samples) tested affirmatively to the Ebola virus.
W.H.O Deputy Director-General, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Dr Peter Salama, says their top priority is to work closely with the government in the Democratic Republic of Congo to sporadically curtail the virus’ outbreak, as an early response is vital to containing the deadly disease.
Locations of the virus outbreak, Ikolo Impenge and Bikoro, are both not far from the banks of Congo River.
Photo Credit: CNN