Panic as Ebola-like ailment kills 70 in Congo

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says about 70 out of 592 people that contracted hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, an ailment which has similar symptoms with the Ebola Virus Disease, have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Michel Wangi, spokesman for DRC’s government, said the origin of the ailment, which has been spreading rapidly across Boende, a town in Equateur province of the country, was unknown.

Coincidentally, the Ebola river where the first case of the highly contagious virus was recorded in 1976 is situated in the same province.

However, Wangi said that a delegation of experts led by acting governor Sebastian Impeto and health minister, Kabange Numbi, have been sent to the region to find the cause of the disease.

WHO also revealed that it has sent its own representatives to the area and that some samples would be flown from Boende to Kinshasa, the country’s capital, for further testing Friday.

A doctor and four other medical personnel are among those who have died from the disease.