WHO reports new Ebola death in Republic of the Congo

The outbreak of the Ebola virus has claimed one more life in the Republic of the Congo, bring the death toll in the affected countries to a total of 24, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) reported today.

In an update on the latest outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in West Africa, WHO said that as of 6 January, 33 confirmed cases had been reported in Gabon and Congo. Twenty of the cases were detected in Gabon and 13 in villages close to the border between the two countries. An additional 15 suspected cases in Gabon were under investigation.

All direct contacts or suspected contact with the blood or other body fluids of a case are being closely monitored for signs or symptoms of the deadly virus, the UN agency said. Nearly 250 cases were under active follow-up.

Meanwhile, Gabon's Red Cross Society is carrying out health education activities in the Gabonese villages.