Symbolic imageEbola reaches new health zone in eastern Congo after fatal imported case in Kenya
Ebola has spread to another health zone in eastern DR Congo, the WHO says. Kenya has confirmed a fatal imported case.
In an update on Thursday, 8 October, the WHO said Alimbongo health zone in North Kivu province had reported cases for the first time, with four confirmed cases including two deaths as of 6 October. By that date the WHO had recorded 8,728 confirmed cases and 4,205 confirmed deaths in DR Congo, across 64 health zones in seven provinces. The outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus. Ituri remains the worst-affected province in cumulative cases.
Kenya's first imported case
According to the WHO, Kenya confirmed the case on 6 October: a Kenyan citizen living in DR Congo who fell ill there, travelled by road to Kampala and flew to Nairobi, arriving on 3 October. The patient died on 5 October, and Kenyan authorities identified 28 contacts. Preliminary results for a suspected case in Wajir County were negative, the county governor said.
Response under strain
MSF said in a 5 October update that North Kivu accounted for nearly 40 percent of new confirmed cases, up from 24 percent at the end of August. As of 28 September, 34 percent of confirmed patients were treated in non-specialised facilities, and treatment centres lacked beds. Daniel Makasi Levergénois of Watoto Radio said insecurity and misinformation in Beni and Butembo made some residents reluctant to cooperate with response teams.