The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday significantly revised downward the number of suspected Ebola cases in Central Africa, reporting 116 suspected cases, down from more than 900 previously, while confirmed cases now stand at 330.
As of May 31, the agency said 116 suspected cases had been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), compared to 906 reported late last week. It added that 321 cases have now been confirmed in the country, including 48 deaths. In neighbouring Uganda, nine confirmed cases have been recorded, including one fatality.
WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier explained that many suspected cases were removed from the tally after laboratory tests confirmed they were caused by other illnesses with similar early symptoms, such as malaria or meningitis.
He noted that anyone presenting at a health facility with symptoms consistent with Ebola is initially classified as a suspected case until test results are available.
The outbreak was declared on May 15 in Ituri province in northeastern DRC, a conflict-affected region of the Central African nation with a population of more than 100 million people.
Health officials believe the virus may have been circulating undetected for weeks before the declaration, partly because early symptoms of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola resemble those of malaria, typhoid, or influenza, delaying diagnosis.
Lindmeier said many suspected cases were later ruled out after testing. “In many cases, they were found to have malaria, meningitis or other illnesses,” he told reporters, adding that such cases are subsequently removed from the suspected tally.
He noted that confirmed cases are added only after laboratory verification, meaning the number of suspected cases can fluctuate significantly as investigations continue.
WHO previously reported 223 deaths suspected to be linked to the outbreak, but that figure has since been dropped due to uncertainty, including cases involving deaths that occurred weeks earlier and could not be independently verified.
Six people confirmed to have Ebola have so far recovered, according to the WHO.
There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, with containment efforts focused primarily on surveillance, isolation, and other preventive measures.
AFP
