Ebola fever claims 54 lives

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that as of 5 February, a total of 69 cases of the Ebola virus were confirmed in the Republic of the Congo (RoC) and neighbouring Gabon. By 1 February, 20 confirmed cases, including 12 deaths, had been reported in the RoC, and by 5 February, 49 cases, including 42 deaths, had been confirmed in Gabon, WHO said in its 16th update on the outbreak. "This increase in confirmed cases largely results from a reclassification of suspect cases following the availability of laboratory results," WHO said in a statement issued on 7 February. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Associated Press reported the death of a child in the remote northeastern district of Roc, reportedly from Ebola. Local officials were waiting for laboratory confirmation that six other deaths which had occurred the previous week in the neighbouring district of Kelle, had also been caused by the virus, the agency stated. Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons. There is no known cure, and between 50 and 90 per cent of victims die. As of 24 January, WHO had reported 16 confirmed cases in Roc, including 11 deaths, and 26 cases in Gabon, including 23 deaths.