International
WHO announces Ebola outbreak in Africa following death of two victims in DR Congo
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday, April 26, announced the outbreak of the Ebola disease in Africa following the demise of two people from the heinous disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The report would mark the 14th outbreak of the disease that the country has seen since 1976, with WHO beginning preparations for a vaccine rollout in the country.
The National Institute of Biomedical Research reported a 31-year-old patient had died on Sunday, April 24, in the north-western city of Mbandaka, with the man reportedly showing symptoms on April 5 but not seeking treatment until a week later.
Read also: DR CONGO: Fears mount over spread of new Ebola outbreak
A 25-year-old woman has also died of the disease, with WHO confirming on Twitter that at least 145 people “came into contact with the confirmed cases”.
The woman was said to have started experiencing symptoms 12 days prior to her death and investigations have shown she was the sister-in-law of the first deceased case.
It is believed she contracted the disease after coming into close contact with the first patient.
The statement published on WHO’s official social media platform reads:
"WHO is supporting the government to scale up testing, contact tracing and public health measures. Stockpiles of #Ebola vaccines in Goma and Kinshasa are now being transported to Mbandaka so that vaccination can start"-@DrTedros https://t.co/9BaMkn7eYZ
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 26, 2022
"The government and people of #DRC have a great deal of experience stopping #Ebola outbreaks and WHO will support them to do whatever is needed"-@DrTedros
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 26, 2022
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...