9 dead in Congo virus outbreak
2005-05-16 12:28
Johannesburg - Nine people have died from an infection caused by an Ebola-like virus in the north western reaches of the Republic of Congo, travel health specialist Dr Andrew Jamieson warned on Monday.
According to health authorities at least 11 people have contracted the disease since May 4.
The outbreak occurred in the Itoumbi and Mbomo districts, located 700km and 900km north west of Congo's capital city, Brazzaville.
Besides being a danger to people living in the area, the warning was also important for people travelling to the region, which borders North West Angola where there are many South Africans working in the diamond industry.
"The first cases apparently appeared among Itoumbi villagers who had gone elephant hunting and who touched and ate a dead monkey they found in the forest," Jamieson said.
Trying to prevent the virus from spreading
Health officials were trying to track down 56 people suspected of close contact with the dead to ensure early diagnosis and to contain the spread of the highly contagious virus.
Both the Ebola and Ebola-like Marburg viruses spread through contact with bodily fluids.
The United Nations' Integrated Regional Information Networks quoted Congo's Minister of Health Alphonse Gando as saying: "People must absolutely avoid all contact with patients, even if they are relatives and, above all, not touch dead animals in the forest," he said.
"This is really important, as the virus is very dangerous and contagious."
Jamieson explained the virus falls under the category of acute haemorrhagic fevers, of which there are about eight or nine.
It began with viral symptoms like headaches, pain and fever but progressed to interfering with the body's ability to clot blood, which resulted in bleeding into internal organs, he said.
People travelling in those regions were advised to avoid having treatment at local health facilities in those areas, many of which are not able to comply with stringent sterilisation requirements. They should take their own sterile equipment if possible.
- SAPA