Ebola death toll in Gabon, Republic of Congo rises to 23, WHO reports

Thirty-two confirmed cases of Ebola haemorrhagic fever - resulting in 23 deaths - have turned up so far in Gabon and the Republic of the Congo, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) reported today.

As of 1 January, 15 laboratory and 17 epidemiologically linked cases of the deadly virus have been reported, WHO said in its latest update on the disease. Twenty cases occurred in Gabon and 12 in the neighbouring villages of the Congo. Of the 23 deaths, 17 were reported in Gabon and six in the Congo. An additional nine suspected cases are under investigation.

All contacts - either direct or suspected contact with the blood or other body fluids of a case - are being closely monitored for signs or symptoms of Ebola haemorrhagic fever for 21 days, according to the UN agency. As of Tuesday, 191 contacts were under active follow-up, WHO said, adding that it anticipated one or more cases developing out of that pool.

A WHO-led international team is operating on both sides of the border and has been working closely in the field with teams from the Ministries of Health of both countries on outbreak control interventions.