WHO is optimistic about the possibility of treating Ebola in Congo.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on May 31 that four nurses who contracted Ebola, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, have been discharged from a hospital in Bunia, Congo, after a full recovery.

Medical staff wearing protective gear at an Ebola treatment facility in Bunia, Congo. Source: Reuters

The WHO predicts that the number of recovered cases will continue to increase, especially when patients are detected early and receive timely treatment, as measures to respond to the outbreak are being intensified.

Earlier this week, a lab worker also recovered, bringing the total number of recovered patients to five.

However, health officials are currently investigating several suspected Ebola cases in Brazil and Italy that may be linked to travel from countries affected by the outbreak.

According to figures released by Congo's Ministry of Communications, the number of confirmed Ebola cases in the country has risen to 282, including 42 deaths, after 19 new positive test results were recorded.

Earlier this month, the WHO declared the Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, a rare variant of the virus, in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. However, the organization stated that the outbreak does not yet meet the criteria to be considered a global pandemic.

During a visit to Bunia, the capital of Ituri province in eastern Congo, on May 30, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that there is currently no licensed vaccine or treatment for Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo strain.

Nevertheless, he emphasized that there is still reason for optimism because patients can survive if they receive adequate and timely medical care.

The current outbreak marks the 17th time Congo has reported an Ebola outbreak and the third major one since the virus was discovered about half a century ago.

According to experts, the rate of spread of the disease is exceeding the current response capacity of the international community, which started rather slowly.

In an article published in the Financial Times on May 31, Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), warned that the risk of a widespread outbreak in the region has begun to materialize.

He said there are currently more than 1,100 suspected cases under investigation.

In Brazil, health officials said a man suspected of having Ebola in Sao Paulo tested positive for meningitis. Another suspected case in Rio de Janeiro was confirmed to have malaria.

However, local health authorities stressed that these diagnoses were not sufficient to completely rule out the possibility that the patient was also infected with Ebola.

In the case of Sao Paulo, the patient is a Congolese citizen who developed a fever after a recent trip to that African country. Meanwhile, the patient in Rio de Janeiro had just returned from Uganda.

In Italy, a response protocol for a suspected Ebola case was also activated in the city of Cagliari on the island of Sardinia after a patient exhibiting symptoms was hospitalized shortly after returning from Congo.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/who-lac-quan-ve-kha-nang-dieu-tri-ebola-tai-congo-976505.html