Deadly Ebola epidemic under control, says government doctor

The Ebola epidemic that broke out in the Cuvette-Ouest District of northern Republic of Congo in December 2002 has almost been contained, Dr Joseph Mboussa, the director in the Ministry of Health, told IRIN on Wednesday. He said only one death from the virus had been recorded since 14 April. So far, a total of 142 cases have been reported, he said, but the numbers of fresh cases were becoming fewer. The World Health Organisation reported on 25 March that 113 people had so far died of Ebola. Hundreds of residents in villages in the Kelle area, who had fled to the forests when the epidemic broke out, have started to return home, Congolese Red Cross officials told IRIN. Fears that these people may have eaten infected primate meat in the forest and started off a new wave of the epidemic on their return to their villages had not been realised, the Red Cross officials said. Ebola is one of the most virulent viruses known to humankind. It causes a haemorrhagic fever that is fatal in 50 percent to 90 percent of cases. The Congolese authorities were first alerted to the Ebola outbreak when troops of gorillas started dying.