Ebola cases in Congo reach 282 as Brazil investigates two suspected cases – nationally

At least 282 confirmed cases of Ebola There have now been reports of the ongoing outbreak in Congo, as authorities in Brazil said they were investigating two suspected cases.

The two patients, who recently arrived in Brazil from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the outbreak is ongoing, showed symptoms including fever and chills.

The first patient is a Belgian traveler who came to Rio de Janeiro from Uganda. The Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) conducted initial tests that were positive only for malaria. The patient remains isolated and those who came into contact with him are being monitored. according to health authorities.

Once the man arrived at the Evandro Chagas Institute, he experienced symptoms including “coughing, chills and diarrhea,” officials said. He remains isolated until a final diagnosis is made.

“The measure is precautionary and takes into account the patient’s travel history,” Fiocruz said in a news release on Sunday.

The São Paulo State Health Department also reported that a man hospitalized with suspected Ebola virus infection tested positive for meningococcal meningitis, confirmed by a PCR blood test.

The suspected Ebola case is still under investigation and the patient is being examined through laboratory and genomic analysis. according to the agency.

The 37-year-old man had recently traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo and developed a high fever upon arrival in Brazil. He was admitted to the Emílio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases in São Paulo.

The Ebola outbreak remains concentrated in Congo’s eastern Ituri province, where 264 cases have been recorded, the Congolese health ministry said. Congo has reported more than 1,000 suspected cases of the Bundibugyo virus, the current strain of Ebola, for which there is no approved treatment or vaccination.

According to the Ministry of Health, the main challenges in containing the outbreak include early detection and rapid isolation of cases, rigorous contact tracing, safe and dignified burials, and strengthening infection prevention and control in health facilities.

The coverage rate for contact tracing has so far been 45 percent, with 220 suspected cases being investigated, the ministry said.

Five patients, all health workers, have recovered from the rare type of Ebola virus, the head of the World Health Organization said on Sunday during a visit to Bunia in eastern Congo.

“Four people are being discharged today and one was discharged the day before yesterday,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, said during the opening of a new Ebola treatment center in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province.

“Of course we are still working on vaccines and treatments, but that doesn’t mean people can’t recover from Ebola,” he added.

“Your courage and your living story give hope that this outbreak can be stopped,” Ghebreyesus told the four nurses and a lab technician.

Baraka Bulambulu, one of those who recovered, told the Associated Press on Sunday that community members feared contracting an unknown disease from them by keeping their distance while delivering food and medicine.

He said the uncertainty was overwhelming as he and other patients believed they could die without knowing what disease they had, even though tests eventually confirmed Ebola.

“The possibility of getting out of this situation alive is a great source of happiness,” Bulambulu said. “Many people who were in the same situation died.”

Ezo Étienne, a nurse, said his symptoms began during ward rounds when he suddenly felt dizzy and then quickly worsened to vomiting, severe itching, severe diarrhea and extreme weakness. He was tested seven times before Ebola was confirmed.

His treatment was solely to manage symptoms: medications to control vomiting, fluids to prevent dehydration, and painkillers. “That was all they could offer,” he said.

The WHO announced on Friday that a patient had recovered from the Bundibugyo virus, the current strain of Ebola. It was the first documented recovery of a confirmed Bundibugyo patient during the current outbreak.

The the health organization said Authorities have reported 291 confirmed cases in Congo and neighboring Uganda as of May 31, including 43 confirmed deaths.

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the WHO met on Sunday released a joint statementthereby reaffirming their partnership and shared commitment to protect the health and well-being of the people of Ituri Province and the entire nation.

The statement was released during Ghebreyesus’ visit to Bunia, Congo, which “comes at a difficult time as the country responds to an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus,” the statement said.

“The Ministry of Health reports a rapidly evolving situation, with cases and deaths reported in several health zones of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. The government, with the support of WHO and partners, is intensifying surveillance, laboratory testing and patient care to interrupt transmission as quickly as possible,” the statement said.

“While the Bundibugyo strain presents additional challenges, including the lack of an approved vaccine or specific treatment, proven public health measures remain effective in slowing transmission and enabling possible full recovery. The Ministry of Health, WHO and partners are working to rapidly conduct randomized control trials of vaccine and treatment candidates,” the statement continued.

WHO said ongoing challenges continue to include early detection and isolation of cases, contact tracing, safe and dignified burials, robust and controlled health facilities and strong community awareness.

“The government and WHO urge all communities to continue taking protective measures, including regular hand hygiene, seeking medical care at health facilities early and sharing accurate information,” the statement continued.

“We sincerely thank our international partners for the support already provided in the response operations and encourage sustained solidarity to bring this outbreak under control. Cooperation between countries must also ensure that borders remain open and that entry controls do not impede the flow of urgently needed medical supplies and personnel,” said the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the WHO.

“Together, the authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo, WHO, Africa CDC and partners are working to strengthen coordination, mobilize additional resources and ensure that life-saving measures reach affected communities quickly and equitably,” the statement concluded.

Hundreds of youths demonstrated on Monday in the central Kenyan city of Nanyuki at Laikipia Air Base against the Ebola quarantine center for American citizens exposed to the virus.

The protest comes two days after Kenya’s Supreme Court suspended the establishment of the facility and the arrival of foreign patients pending the hearing of a case filed by the Law Society of Kenya and a constitutional watchdog.

The two organizations cited Kenya’s fragile health system as a reason why foreign Ebola patients should not be quarantined in the country.

Last week, U.S. officials said they planned to do so Send Americans exposed to Ebola abroad to a new facility in Kenya instead of flying them to the United States.

The quarantine and treatment center, being set up by the defense, state and health departments, will be designed for Ebola patients leaving the Democratic Republic of Congo who need quick care, an administration official told The Associated Press.

Kenya has recorded no Ebola cases, but neighboring Uganda has reported nine and closed its border with Congo.

— with files from The Associated Press