The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has confirmed a fresh outbreak of the Ebola virus, sparking renewed concerns across Africa, including Nigeria.
Health officials said this is the country’s 16th outbreak of the disease, with 28 confirmed and suspected cases recorded in Kasai Province, leading to 15 deaths so far.
Authorities traced the index case to a 34-year-old pregnant woman in Boulapé, who died after exhibiting symptoms consistent with Ebola.
First discovered in 1976, Ebola is caused by the Zaire ebolavirus and is transmitted to humans from wild animals such as fruit bats and primates, before spreading rapidly through human-to-human contact.
The virus spreads via direct contact with bodily fluids such as blood and vomit, or through contaminated items including medical equipment and bedding. Traditional burial practices involving close contact with corpses have also been identified as accelerators of transmission.
Ebola’s early symptoms resemble malaria and typhoid, starting with fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. As the disease progresses, patients may experience vomiting, diarrhoea, rashes, organ failure, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.
