Update: Ebola in Western Kasai, DRC

Democratic Republic of Congo | 08 January 2009

As of Jan. 7, a total of 42 patients have been reported with suspected Ebola hemorrhagic fever in the province of Western Kasai, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Thirteen of these 42 patients have died. The epicentre of the epidemic is probably Kaluamba village, in the centre of the province.

More than 20 blood and stool samples were sent to laboratories in the Congolese capital Kinshasa and also to South Africa and Gabon. To date just 10 results have come back, four of which were positive. However, none of the samples from the 13 deceased have yet returned positive results for Ebola. A reliable laboratory that is both closer and able to provide results within 24 hours would help differentiate Ebola patients from those suffering from other diseases.

The Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams on the ground are concentrating on four main strategies to deal with the outbreak.

First they isolate and provide medical and psychological care to patients in an isolation centre in Kampungu village, close to Kaluamba. Currently one patient is still receiving care in the isolation centre and is recovering.

Next, the teams