There's an Ebola outbreak in the DRC and this is how doctors plan to contain it

15 May 2017 5:07 PM

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and local authorities are tracking 125 people believed to have been infected with the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Three people have already died in a new outbreak and at least nine confirmed cases have been identified.

The outbreak has taken place in a remote region, far north in Bas-Uele province which borders the Central African Republic.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD's) Professor Janusz Paweska says the outbreak does not put neighbouring African countries in danger.

He says the remote areas make the outbreak easier to control but may be difficult to access for health professionals.

Outbreak control measures require a number of logistics to be arranged, including the transport of healthcare workers and other relief goods.
— Prof Janusz Paweska, Head of the Centre for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases at NICD

Prof Paweska explains that the priority for WHO and other aid workers is to trace those people who had contact with confirmed victims to prevent the disease spreading further.

The focus is to identify all the sick people and also the people who had contact with them and those who died, ASAP.
— Prof Janusz Paweska, Head of the Centre for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases at NICD

He advises that the cluster of people will be monitored and tested.

Take a listen to him unpack how control measures are undertaken and the difference with this new DRC outbreak:

This article first appeared on CapeTalk : There's an Ebola outbreak in the DRC and this is how doctors plan to contain it

Written by: Qama Qukula