10 May 2018

Ministry of Health and Wellness advices the public to avoid or postpone travelling to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and affected provinces following declaration of a new Ebola virus outbreak, which has led to 17 Ebola-related deaths and 21 suspected cases.

A press release from the ministry states that the current Ebola epidemic is reported from the North-Eastern part of the country in Bikoro, Equateur province on the shore of Lake Tumba.

“The ministry therefore advises travellers to take necessary precautions while it continues to monitor the situation. We will update the public as the epidemic unfolds,” it says.

The release further states that Ebola is a highly contagious and virulent disease that currently has no cure and it can be transmitted via human contact with body fluids of an infected person.

Symptoms of Ebola include, fever of acute onset with unexplainable bleeding tendencies from nose, gums, vagina, skin or eyes, bloody stools, vomiting and coughing blood, diarrhea, deterioration of vision or decreased consciousness. ENDS