Ebola death in Bas-Uele raises concerns over wider transmission in Congo
A motorcycle taxi driver who travelled from Haut-Uele died of Ebola in Bas-Uele’s capital Buta after visiting several health facilities.
Buta, Democratic Republic of Congo. Health authorities have confirmed an Ebola death in Bas-Uele province, which has not previously reported cases in the ongoing outbreak, raising concerns over possible wider transmission.
The patient, a motorcycle taxi driver, had travelled from neighbouring Haut-Uele province, where Ebola cases have already been confirmed.
Patient’s movements
The man developed haemorrhagic symptoms consistent with Ebola and died in Buta, the capital of Bas-Uele province, Jean-Jacques Muyembe, head of Congo’s National Institute for Biomedical Research, told Reuters.
He tested positive for the virus after his death, Muyembe said.
The patient visited several health facilities before he died. Fellow motorcycle taxi drivers also attempted to retrieve his body, leading local police to intervene, raising concerns that several people may have been exposed to the virus.
Outbreak data
Bas-Uele will not be added to the list of affected provinces unless there is a case involving local transmission.
Haut-Uele is one of five provinces affected by the outbreak, which was announced on May 15. It has recorded 113 confirmed cases, according to the latest available government data published on Tuesday.
Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak has infected 4,566 people and caused 2,128 deaths, according to government data released on Wednesday. It is the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record, behind the West Africa outbreak of 2014 to 2016.
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