As of 18 February, a total of 73 suspected
cases and 59 deaths of Ebola haemorrhagic fever has been reported in the
districts of Mbomo and Kellé in Cuvette Ouest Region ( see previous
report ).
The Government of the Republic of the
Congo has officially declared the epidemic as due to Ebola haemorrhagic
fever. Laboratory testing carried out at the Centre International de Recherches
Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Gabon has confirmed the diagnosis of
Ebola in clinical samples.
The government has requested the assistance of WHO in controlling the outbreak. A team including epidemiologists and social mobilization experts from WHO and the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network have arrived in the Cuvette Ouest Region. Experts in clinical management will be joining them in the area shortly.