Confirmed Ebola cases in Congo reach 282 as survivors describe their recoveries
BUNIA, Congo (AP) — At least 282 confirmed cases Ebola The ongoing outbreak has been reported in Congo, the Central African country said in a statement late Sunday. patients recovering from the disease He talked about his indescribable happiness in an interview with the Associated Press.
Congo’s Health Ministry said the outbreak continues to be concentrated in Congo’s eastern Ituri province, where 264 cases have been recorded. More than 1000 suspected cases reported in Congo Bundibugyo virusCurrent strain of Ebola for which there is no approved treatment or vaccine.
According to the health ministry, the main challenges in controlling the epidemic include early detection and rapid isolation of cases, strict tracing of contacts, safe and dignified burials, and strengthening the prevention and control of infection in healthcare facilities.
The contact tracing coverage rate so far is 45% and 220 suspected cases are being investigated, the ministry said.
Meanwhile, some of the five people who have survived the disease so far described their recovery in interviews with The Associated Press.
Nurse Baraka Bulambulu said she was very happy after her last two Ebola tests came back negative.
Bulambulu was among those presented with recovery certificates Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization He inaugurated a new Ebola treatment center in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, on Sunday.
“The first one came out positive but the second and third were negative from my perspective,” Bulambulu said with a broad smile. “It is an indescribable happiness to come out of this disease alive.”
Nurse Ezo Étienne, who survived the disease, said that he first started feeling dizzy while checking patients during ward visits at the hospital.
“That’s how it started,” he recalled. “I called the team and told them, ‘There’s something wrong here.’ I checked my blood pressure and immediately saw that I was experiencing hypotension (low blood pressure). I decided to get some rest and a few minutes later I started vomiting.”
The WHO said all five survivors were healthcare workers – four nurses and one laboratory worker – the group hardest hit by the outbreak.
The organization stated that treatments applied so far mostly target patients’ symptoms.
“Your courage gives hope and your living story that this epidemic can be stopped,” Tedros told healthcare workers on Sunday.
Neighboring Uganda also reported nine cases of Ebola and closed its border with Congo in an attempt to limit its spread.
Although there have been more than 20 Ebola outbreaks in Congo and Uganda, Bundibugyo virus is rare. The lack of approved vaccines and treatments and gun violence in remote locations and hotspots complicate the current response.
Director general of the Congolese National Institute of Public Health, Dr. Dieudonne Mwamba Kazadi said despite the difficulties, the recoveries were “a victory worth celebrating”.
“This is a strong message that recovery from Ebola is possible with early care in a specialized health facility,” he added.
