The Le Desmet Hospital of Kisangani, located in the Makiso commune, has been closed for 21 days due to the Ebola outbreak. The announcement was made by the provincial Minister of Health, Simon Bokongo, on September 29. According to Bokongo, nearly ten people working at the hospital have tested positive for Ebola, including Dr. Victor Kingombe, who died on September 24 at the Ebola Treatment Center in Kisangani.
The closure of the hospital was necessitated by the high number of positive cases among its staff and the presence of the virus throughout the facility. Bokongo stated that there are over 123 contacts and that the hospital has become an epicenter for the transmission of Ebola. The situation is being closely monitored, and the hospital will remain closed for 21 days to prevent further spread of the disease.
Another institution affected by the outbreak is the La Borne maternal school, located in the Tshopo commune, which has also been closed for 21 days. A teacher at the school tested positive for Ebola, and her husband works at the Le Desmet Hospital. The closure of the school is a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the disease among students and staff.
The provincial Minister of Health has also placed another health structure in the Makiso commune under surveillance. This facility has reported a case of Ebola among its nursing staff. A decision on the fate of this facility will be made within 72 hours. The situation remains concerning in the province, with 45 confirmed cases and 18 deaths reported in Tshopo.
According to the Minister of Health, some areas are showing a positive trend, with the Lubunga health zone having gone over 70 days without reporting a new case. However, the Makiso health zone remains a concern, with a recent increase in cases. The government is working to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread of the disease.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has now reported over 8,000 confirmed cases and nearly 4,000 deaths. The situation is being closely monitored, and efforts are being made to strengthen the response to the outbreak. The government, in collaboration with international partners, is working to vaccinate those at risk and provide treatment to those infected.
The temporary closure of the school and hospital in Kisangani is a measure to prevent the spread of Ebola and protect the health and well-being of the community. The government and health authorities are urging calm and cooperation from the public in their efforts to contain the outbreak.
Key points
- The Le Desmet Hospital of Kisangani has been closed for 21 days due to the Ebola outbreak, with nearly ten staff members testing positive for the disease.
- A maternal school in Kisangani has also been closed for 21 days after a teacher tested positive for Ebola.
- The situation remains concerning in the province, with 45 confirmed cases and 18 deaths reported in Tshopo.
