A new case of Ebola has been identified near the city of Butembo in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), three months after the country announced an end to the virus.
This new case marks the start of Congo’s twelfth Ebola outbreak since the virus was discovered near the Ebola River in 1976.
The country’s health minister, Eteni Longondo told state television, RTNC that the deceased, a woman died in a hospital in Butembo, two days after she showed symptoms of the virus.
Longondo further revealed that the deceased was married to a man who had contracted the virus in a previous outbreak.
“The deceased was a wife of a farmer who was also a survivor of Ebola. She began to show typical signs of the disease on February 1 but passed away two days later.
“However, the provincial response team has resumed work and will be supported by the national response team which will visit Butembo shortly.
“Also, we have been able to track more than 70 people who came into contact with the deceased while the places she visited are being disinfected,” Longondo said.
