South Sudan’s Ministry of Health said Friday it is strengthening border surveillance and public health precautions after health officials confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in a remote region of the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The outbreak, declared Thursday in Congo’s Kasai Province, has been tied to 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers. Tests confirmed the Zaire strain of the virus, which is known for high fatality rates.
In a statement seen by Radio Tamazuj, the South Sudanese government said it is working with the World Health Organization and other partners to prevent the spread of the virus across the border.
Health officials urged anyone with symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea or unexplained bleeding to contact a health facility immediately or call the national hotline at 6666.
The ministry also advised the public to avoid physical contact with symptomatic individuals, practice strict hand hygiene, avoid contact with bodily fluids and refrain from handling bodies of those who may have died from Ebola. All burials of suspected cases should be supervised by trained health teams, the statement said.
The Congo outbreak is centered in a hard-to-reach area with limited infrastructure, complicating response efforts.
South Sudan health authorities pledged to provide regular updates and maintain transparent communication with the public.
Ebola is a zoonotic viral haemorrhagic fever affecting humans and non-human primates. The virus is transmitted from infected wild animals (such as fruit bats, porcupines, and primates) to humans. Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids or tissues of infected individuals, or contaminated surfaces and materials. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, and unexplained bleeding or bruising. The disease has an average case fatality rate of about 50%.