Authorities in Democratic Republic of Congo say Dr. Oly Ilunga, former head of the Ministry of Health and its Ebola response, was taken into custody on Saturday as police sought to stop him from leaving the country through neighboring Brazzaville. The former minister’s detention follows initial hearings on alleged financial…
As of Monday, the death toll from the Ebola virus in Democratic Republic of Congo stood at 1,743, with 10 of 14 newly confirmed cases in the hotspot of Beni that bring the total caseload to 2,498. That’s according to the daily update from the Congolese Ministry of Health, but…
For the second time in a week, an Ebola treatment facility in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was attacked – this time by armed men who overran a center in Butembo jointly operated by the Ministry of Health and Doctors Without Borders (MSF). There were 40 patients in the facility…
The health minister in the Democratic Republic of Congo has praised the response of Ebola workers in Katwa who were attacked on Sunday, while condemning the arson that destroyed the Ebola health center there. “Our health officers showed composure and exceptional courage last night,” said Dr. Oly Ilunga, calling the…
For months, health officials have issued a steady stream of warnings over the security situation in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where workers are racing the clock to contain an Ebola virus outbreak and treat its victims. Another disruption at the weekend is underscoring fears that the situation could become…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
The death toll in the Ebola virus outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo has now surpassed 200 people as the country’s Ministry of Health and international experts work to contain the outbreak. Both the head of the ministry, Dr. Oly Ilunga, and the World Health Organization said this week that…
The Ebola virus has now claimed 113 lives in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as experts from seven East African countries completed meetings in Uganda focused on response to the outbreak. “The discussions focused on the measures to be taken to prevent the spread of the current Ebola epidemic…
The Ebola death toll has risen to 61 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where health officials are working to contain the outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Most of the fatalities have been in Mabalako, where 50 people have died. Another three fatal cases are reported in…
The Ebola death toll has risen to 47 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where health officials are working to contain the outbreak in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces – places where armed conflict creates a barrier to the health care response. Most of the fatalities have been in…
Armed conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern regions is a barrier in controlling the latest Ebola virus outbreak in the country, the World Health Organization director said Saturday while visiting the response centers in Beni and Mangina. “I call upon all warring parties to provide secure access to all…
The death toll has risen to 33 in Democratic Republic of Congo, where health officials are working to contain a new Ebola outbreak declared on Wednesday in the Beni region of Kivu province. The first Ebola Treatment Centers (ETCs) will be located in Mangina, Beni and Goma, but the update…
A new Ebola outbreak in the Beni region of Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed at least 20 lives so far, according to the country’s Ministry of Health. Twelve experts from the ministry, based in Kinshasa, arrived in the Mangina and Mabalako communities on Thursday, with doctors, laboratory technicians, epidemiologists…
Tedros Adhanom, the World Health Organization Director General, returned to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday to check on the progress of Ebola treatment and containment. He then visited Central African Republic, one of nine neighboring countries taking preparedness measures. “We have made great progress in the fight…