Ebola confirmed in Equatoria

Nineteen cases of the Ebola virus have been confirmed in Yambio county, Western Equatoria, southern Sudan, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Atlanta-based Centre for Disease Control and Prevention had confirmed that the virus was Ebola, but was unable to match it with other known strains, Dr Abdullahi Ahmed, head of the WHO office for southern Sudan, told IRIN. "It might be a new strain," he said. "They're still doing genetic sequencing tests." As of Monday, nineteen people had contracted the viral fever, of whom four had died, he said. A further 118 people who had had contact with the patients were being monitored for a period of 21 days. The virus, which causes bloody vomiting and diarrhoea, is passed on through contact with bodily fluids. Since Friday, one new case had been found, while another patient had been discharged from hospital, said Abdullahi. Once a patient was given adequate care and support, they were able to return home after two weeks, he said. While there is no treatment for the highly contagious virus, by isolating patients and following up on people who have had contact with patients, it can be contained, according to Abdullahi. Through support and care, about 50 percent of those infected had survived similar viral diseases in southern Sudan in the past, he said. So far all of the cases have been confined to Yambio payam (an administrative unit) in Yambio county. Nevertheless WHO was advising people not to engage in any "unnecessary travel" in the area, Abdullahi added.