At least 118 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo have died of suspected Ebola infections, according to Congolese health officials, who said the outbreak is spreading.
The suspected death toll was announced by DRC government spokesman Patrick Muyaya on Monday, the official Congolese Press Agency reported, a sharp increase from 80 suspected deaths reported by the World Health Organization on Friday.
Analysis is underway to determine whether the deaths are related to the epidemic.
The World Health Organization on Saturday declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern.
As of Monday, there were 11 laboratory-confirmed and 336 suspected cases in the DRC, and two confirmed cases, including one death, in Uganda, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Both Ugandan cases involved recent travel to the DRC.
DRC health officials announced Monday that cases were reported in two more health zones for a total of five.
Officials in both the DRC’s North Kivu province, where suspected cases were identified, and Uganda are calling on residents to avoid contact with others, urging residents to refrain from hugging and shaking hands.
“Report to the nearest health facility if you have signs and symptoms consistent with Ebola,” Uganda’s Ministry of Health said in a social media poster.
WHO African Region announced Monday that it had delivered nearly 12 tons of emergency supplies to DRC, including 4.7 tons from the WHO’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Hub in Nairobi and 7 tons from Kinshasa.
Most of what was being shipped was personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of the virus to frontline workers, Fatima Tafida, regional supply chain coordinator for WHO’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Hub, said in a recorded statement.
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf issued a statement saying the 55-member bloc stands with the DRC and Uganda.
“Africa has overcome major public health challenges before, and through unity, coordination and collective action, we shall overcome this one as well,” he said.
“We call upon all member states and partners to intensify support for preparedness, surveillance and rapid response efforts in affected and at-risk countries.”
Ebola is often fatal with a mortality rate of around 50%, according to the WHO.
It is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads through direct contact with blood and other bodily fluids of infected individuals.
