DR Congo river boat under quarantine for Ebola after five deaths
Summary
Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have quarantined a river boat called Yingfeng 2 after five people died, including a passenger who got off earlier and died in hospital. Health teams are testing the 255 passengers for Ebola and cholera as a precaution, but no positive Ebola cases have been found so far.Key Facts
- The Yingfeng 2, a boat run by a Chinese company, was stopped near Bende Bende port on the Congo River, about 65 km from Kinshasa.
- Five people have died connected to this boat: three adults, a three-year-old child, and a newborn.
- The boat left Kisangani, DR Congo’s third largest city, about two weeks ago and traveled more than 1,700 km downstream.
- Health teams from DR Congo and the World Health Organization (WHO) are on board, conducting tests in a mobile lab.
- The Ebola outbreak involved is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, which has no specific treatment or approved vaccine yet.
- Since May 15, there have been 3,973 confirmed Ebola cases and 1,801 deaths in DR Congo.
- Officials have quarantined the boat offshore to prevent the virus from reaching Kinshasa, the capital.
- Over 17,000 people are currently being monitored for possible exposure to Ebola in the country.
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