DR Congo screens quarantined river boat passengers over Ebola fears
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are screening more than 250 passengers aboard a river boat intercepted near Kinshasa after a passenger suspected of having Ebola died in hospital.
The Chinese-operated Yingfeng 2 was stopped near Maluku, about 65km upstream from the capital, after travelling more than 1,700km downstream from Mongala Province.
Health Minister Roger Kamba said Ebola and cholera screening was being conducted as a precaution after the passenger, who developed fever and diarrhoea, died. Four other people, including a newborn and a three-year-old child, have also died.
Health ministry and World Health Organization (WHO) teams boarded the vessel and deployed a mobile laboratory. Samples from four passengers showing symptoms have been collected, with results expected Friday.
“For now, no-one has tested positive,” Kamba said, adding that the vessel had left Mongala 22 days ago, where authorities reported no Ebola cases.
Security forces have been ordered to quarantine the boat under WHO guidelines to prevent possible transmission into Kinshasa.
DR Congo is battling its 17th Ebola outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus.
