The case is a 48-year-old patient who was a high-risk contact of the first case detected in Equateur province (northwest), the 14th outbreak (declared on April 22) since 1976 in the country.

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the fact the day before, explaining that 444 contacts have already been identified by the teams on the ground. Of the three confirmed cases, two have died (a man and a woman).

The second victim died on April 25, and it was reported that she was the sister-in-law of the first victim.

In the meantime, health personnel have already vaccinated 281 people in Mbandaka against the Ebola virus (a preparation still in the testing phase).

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, said that they will reactivate the doses to personnel inoculated two years ago. She also stressed that health personnel have more experience in dealing with the disease.

ef/abo/mem/ro