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DR Congo ebola outbreak kills 10, says medical charity | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Ten people have died after contracting a strain of the deadly ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, medical charity MSF said. | |
The charity said there were a further six confirmed or probable cases in the town of Isiro. | The charity said there were a further six confirmed or probable cases in the town of Isiro. |
The outbreak, involving the Bundibugyo strain, was first reported last week after one person had died. | The outbreak, involving the Bundibugyo strain, was first reported last week after one person had died. |
Last month an outbreak of a more deadly ebola strain in neighbouring Uganda killed 16 people. | |
The DR Congo outbreak occurred in Oriental province, which shares a border with Uganda. | The DR Congo outbreak occurred in Oriental province, which shares a border with Uganda. |
Medicins sans Frontieres (MSF) has said that the two outbreaks may not be related. | Medicins sans Frontieres (MSF) has said that the two outbreaks may not be related. |
It is not clear when exactly the deaths in Isiro occurred. | It is not clear when exactly the deaths in Isiro occurred. |
'Very dangerous' | 'Very dangerous' |
A medical coordinator for MSF, Anja de Weggheleire, told the BBC the Bundibugyo strain was still dangerous, if less fatal than the one detected in Uganda. | A medical coordinator for MSF, Anja de Weggheleire, told the BBC the Bundibugyo strain was still dangerous, if less fatal than the one detected in Uganda. |
"It is normally less mortal and less virulent then the one we have seen in other places... But still it stays a very dangerous and mortal disease... we expect normally figures around 25 to 35% mortality," Ms Weggheleire said. | |
The charity says its staff in the affected area in north-east DR Congo are taking measures to locate and isolate anyone who has been in contact with those infected. | The charity says its staff in the affected area in north-east DR Congo are taking measures to locate and isolate anyone who has been in contact with those infected. |
Experts have said that Isiro's position as a transit point could make an outbreak more challenging to control. | Experts have said that Isiro's position as a transit point could make an outbreak more challenging to control. |
The virus, which is transmitted to humans from both monkeys and birds, causes massive internal bleeding and has a very high mortality rate. | The virus, which is transmitted to humans from both monkeys and birds, causes massive internal bleeding and has a very high mortality rate. |
It is one of the most virulent diseases in the world and is spread by close personal contact. | It is one of the most virulent diseases in the world and is spread by close personal contact. |
There is no vaccine for the virus and symptoms of infection include a sudden onset of fever, weakness, headache, vomiting and kidney problems. | There is no vaccine for the virus and symptoms of infection include a sudden onset of fever, weakness, headache, vomiting and kidney problems. |