Congo's Ebola outbreak spreads to an eighth province after confirmed cases exceed 9,000
Summary
Congo's Ebola outbreak had recorded more than 4,000 deaths by October 2, authorities said, in what has become the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history. On October 6, authorities said a Kenyan citizen who had lived in Congo for the past seven years had become Kenya's first confirmed case of Ebola and the country's first death from the disease, the patient having fallen ill about a month earlier and been treated at various hospitals before traveling by road to Kampala, Uganda, and boarding a flight to Nairobi. On October 7, the outbreak was reported to be spreading rapidly to new hot spots in Congo where patients have little or no support, with responders describing a 'chaotic' response, and on October 13 the number of confirmed cases surpassed 9,000 in relentless community transmission as efforts to contain the outbreak falter, according to Congolese health ministry data cited by The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Inquirer and ABC News reported on October 14 that Kenya's Health Ministry has confirmed the country's second Ebola case, a relative of the first patient, and on October 16 that a third person, a relative of the first patient, tested positive for Ebola while in quarantine as a known contact, the first patient having died two days after arriving from Congo. On October 18, the Inquirer and the LA Times reported that the outbreak, the deadliest ever recorded in the country according to the LA Times, has spread to an eighth province.
Latest: Congo's fast-moving Ebola outbreak has spread to an eighth province, ABC News reported.
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How it unfolded
Sunday 18 October
Congo's fast-moving Ebola outbreak, the deadliest ever recorded in the country according to the LA Times, has spread to an eighth province, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the LA Times reported.
- 18:48ABC NewsCongo’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak spreads to eighth province
- 14:18LA TimesCongo’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak spreads to eighth province
- 12:43The Philadelphia InquirerCongo’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak spreads to eighth province
Friday 16 October
Kenya's health ministry confirmed that a third person, a relative of the first patient, tested positive for Ebola on Friday while in quarantine as a known contact of the first patient, The Philadelphia Inquirer and ABC News reported.
- 14:34ABC NewsKenya confirms third Ebola case, a relative of the first patient who died
- 12:48The Philadelphia InquirerKenya confirms third Ebola case, a relative of the first patient who died
Wednesday 14 October
Kenya's Health Ministry confirmed the country's second Ebola case, a relative of the first patient.
- 12:20ABC NewsKenya confirms second Ebola case, a relative of first patient
- 11:48The Philadelphia InquirerKenya confirms second Ebola case, a relative of first patient
Tuesday 13 October
Congo's confirmed Ebola cases surpassed 9,000 in relentless community transmission as containment efforts falter, according to Congolese health ministry data, and health workers are alarmed as many deaths occur outside treatment centers.
- 15:56PBS NewsHourCongo's confirmed Ebola cases surpass 9,000 as containment efforts falter
- 13:35The Philadelphia InquirerCongo's confirmed Ebola cases exceed 9,000 as containment efforts falter
Wednesday 7 October
Kenya confirmed its first case and death from Ebola, and the outbreak was reported to be spreading rapidly to new hot spots in Congo, where responders describe a 'chaotic' response.
- 09:00ABC NewsEbola creates new hot spots in Congo as responders describe ‘chaotic’ response
- 08:54The Philadelphia InquirerEbola creates new hot spots in Congo as responders describe ‘chaotic’ response
Tuesday 6 October
A Kenyan citizen who had been living in Congo before returning to Nairobi became Kenya's first confirmed case of Ebola and the country's first death from the disease, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the LA Times reported, the LA Times saying the man had lived in Congo for the past seven years.
- 21:19The Philadelphia InquirerKenya confirms its first Ebola case and death in a man who traveled from Congo
- 19:58PBS NewsHourMan living in Congo who went back to Kenya is country's 1st confirmed Ebola case and death
- 12:26LA TimesMan living in Congo who returned to Kenya is country's first confirmed Ebola case and first death
- 10:53The Philadelphia InquirerMan living in Congo who returned to Kenya is country's first confirmed Ebola case and first death
Friday 2 October
Congo's Ebola outbreak has recorded more than 4,000 deaths, authorities said, in what has become the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history.