DR Congo Confirms Ebola Outbreak in Kasai as Death Toll Rises

Democratic Republic of Congo health authorities on Thursday confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in Kasai province after reporting 28 suspected cases and a rapidly rising death toll linked to a case first seen in late August. Officials said the outbreak began when a 34-year-old pregnant woman was admitted to a hospital in Boulapé with bleeding and other haemorrhagic symptoms; she died within days and health workers who cared for her and laboratory staff subsequently fell ill.

The health ministry announced 28 suspected infections and 15 deaths, including 14 in Boulapé and one in Mweka, Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba told reporters in Kinshasa. Kamba said four of the deaths were among healthcare workers and estimated a provisional case fatality rate of 53.6 percent. Provincial authorities had initially reported eight deaths, and some earlier local counts and reports suggested the toll could be as high as 16, reflecting inconsistent and evolving figures as investigations continue.

The confirmed case has been identified as infection with the Zaire strain of Ebola, which is the most deadly of the Ebola virus variants but for which an effective vaccine exists. Kamba and other officials...