Ebola death toll rises in Congo (DRC)

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the death toll from the Ebola virus has more than doubled to 31 in north-eastern Congo in recent days. The UN organization says total cases now stand at 69 people infected. Ebola, which causes internal bleeding, has no cure and is fatal in the majority of cases.

“The virus is spreading human to human through the contact with bodily fluids,” said Tarik Jasarevic, WHO spokesperson.

He told Vatican Radio the WHO and local authorities are working to contain the outbreak.

“One of the measures is tracing contact, so finding all those people who have been in contact with infected persons and checking on them,” he said. “The other thing is to also strengthen surveillance…informing the population to avoid panic but also to tell people to avoid contact with those who may have been infected.”

Jasarevic said it is important to note outbreaks of Ebola have been occurring regularly in the region.

“This is something that WHO and the Ministries of Health of the countries of central and west Africa know how to deal with,” he said.

Listen to the interview by Charles Collins with Tarik Jasarevic: