Five Ebola patients recover in eastern DR Congo

Five patients have recovered from a rare type of Ebola in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the head of the World Health Organisation said on Sunday during a visit to Bunia, a city at the heart of the outbreak.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke at the opening of a new Ebola treatment centre in Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri. He said four people would be discharged on Sunday, and one was discharged the day before.

“Of course, we’re still working on vaccines and treatments, but that doesn’t mean that people cannot recover from Ebola,” Tedros said.

The WHO said on Friday a patient had recovered from the Bundibugyo virus, the current Ebola strain, which has no approved treatment or vaccine. That was the first documented recovery of a confirmed Bundibugyo patient during the current outbreak.

Official figures show 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths, according to the WHO. Neighbouring Uganda has confirmed nine cases and one death, the Ugandan Health Ministry said on Friday.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Saturday that the virus continues to spread faster than the response despite better-organised health facilities and new aid arrivals. MSF called for expanded testing, faster deployment of aid workers and sustained access for medical supplies.

Residents have launched at least three attacks against health centres, angered by medical protocols that clash with local burial rites.

Tedros stressed the importance of community involvement in the outbreak response. “We can stop this Ebola, and anyone who has it can also recover. But this is everybody’s business and every citizen should be involved,” he said.

SOURCE: WHO