DRC Ebola response is gearing up despite difficulties, says WHO

In Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), efforts are continuing to respond to the deadly Ebola outbreak in the remote north of the country.

Four people have died so far in Likati health zone, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), out of 43 reported cases of the haemorrhagic disease.

The Regional Director of WHO's African Region, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said: "We now have a mobile lab on the ground and we are anticipating now being able to get confirmation of cases yes or no much more quickly in that remote area. We were able to get people out there pretty quickly considering that it is so difficult logistically, there are no roads and by the time you get close to the place; and we've had to have plane and helicopter transport basically to get people and materials, equipment out there, but it's been able to start happening fairly quickly."

WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told journalists in Geneva that an additional five patients are receiving treatment in a specialist facility, and of more than more than 400 contacts traced, 54 have cleared the 21-day incubation period for Ebola.

The government of DRC has not yet announced whether it intends to deploy the experimental Ebola vaccine, but preparations are under way to ensure that it can be transported at the required minus 80 degrees Centigrade if necessary, Mr Jasarevic added.


Daniel Johnson, United Nations, Geneva /gbconline