Ebola outbreak tests global response

The Democratic Republic of Congo declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in south-central Kasai province after 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers, were reported.

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The outbreak began with a 34-year-old pregnant woman who was hospitalised on Aug 20 in Bulape health zone and died five days later, according to Congo's public health ministry. Additional cases were reported in Bulape and Mweka health zones, with patients presenting symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and haemorrhage. Samples tested this week at the National Institute of Biomedical Research in Kinshasa identified the strain as Ebola Zaire, the World Health Organization said Thursday.