At least 15 people have died in a new outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country's health ministry has said.
The presence of the virus was confirmed in a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted to the hospital last month after showing symptoms that included high fever and repeated vomiting. She died shortly after from multiple organ failure.
This will be the 16th outbreak of the deadly virus in the vast central African state, which struggles with poor health services and ongoing conflicts, especially in the east.
The latest outbreak is centered in central Kasai province, where 28 suspected cases have been recorded, according to the health ministry.
Health officials are urging strict adherence to preventive measures, which include frequent handwashing and social distancing in high-risk areas. Tests have identified the Zaire strain of Ebola, a disease that is rare but often deadly.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated it is acting with determination to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and protect communities. Four health workers are among the reported fatalities.
Case numbers are likely to increase as the transmission is ongoing. Response teams and local teams will work to find those who may be infected and require care, ensuring everyone is protected as quickly as possible, the WHO added in a statement.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has a stockpile of treatments, including 2,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, which is effective against this strain of Ebola.
The last Ebola outbreak in the country occurred three years ago, resulting in six deaths.
An outbreak from 2018 to 2020 was significantly more deadly, claiming over 2,000 lives. The virus, initially detected in fruit bats, was first identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in the present-day Democratic Republic of Congo.
Infections occur via direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.
