Ebola suspected in Congo deaths

Sunday Times ^ | 06Nov03

[Neuromancer]

Ebola suspected in Congo deaths

From a correspondent in the Republic of Congo

06nov03

SEVEN people have died in the Republic of Congo from what could be another outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus, health ministry officials said today. The seven died around October 31 in the remote northern Cuvette West region, which was struck by Ebola earlier this year.

Five members of a single family died that day in Mbanza, about 900km northeast of the capital, Brazzaville. Two nurses who treated them at a clinic in the nearby village of Mbomo also died.

A health ministry letter sent to the World Health Organisation (WHO), obtained by AP, said the victims displayed symptoms of a haemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola.

However, public health chief Damase Bozongo said it was not yet clear what caused the deaths and the presence of Ebola had not been confirmed.

The health ministry letter, which said 15 cases were reported in all, called on the WHO to donate supplies for a team of Congolese specialists headed tomorrow to the area to determine why the seven died.

In June, Republic of Congo authorities announced the end of an Ebola epidemic that killed more than 120 people in the same Cuvette West region, located in the central African nation's northern forests.

That epidemic, believed to have been sparked by contact with infected gorilla flesh - consumed in many parts of Africa - broke out in January. The viral disease is one of the world's deadliest, causing rapid death through massive blood loss in up to 90 per cent of cases.

[eldoradude]

sparked by contact with infected gorilla flesh

Where's PETA when you need them? Aren't gorillas endangered? Where's the outcry dutifully reported in the "mass" media?(Sarcasm)

Ebola research IS worthy of funding. It's just a matter of time before someone who is infected hops on a jet and shares with the world.

[blam]

"It's just a matter of time before someone who is infected hops on a jet and shares with the world."

I've read that ebola acts so fast that it is difficult to travel with it.

[eldoradude]

Many live for days. I am not saying it is likely, but it is readily possible - after all, conception is a very rare occurence, 1 out 400 million or so success rate. All of us are the winners of that particular game of chance...

[kenth]

That particular event was caused by a roadkill smorgasgorilla, wasn't it? One would think it would just make sense not to eat a decaying ape.

[Ophiucus]

If you can travel with a bad case of the flu, then you can travel with the very early onset of Ebola. Luckily, it does take a person down fast and the outbreaks have been limited to areas where people are unlikely to hop on a plane the next day.

[Neuromancer]

The consumption of "bush meat" is fairly common.

The viral transmission occurs during the butchering process.

[Neuromancer]

Yes