Description of the situation
04 January 2002
Disease Outbreak Reported
All contacts (having
direct or suspected contact with the blood or other body fluids of a case) are being
closely monitored for signs or symptoms of Ebola haemorrhagic fever for 21 days. As of 2
January 2002, 242 contacts are under active follow up (147 contacts in Gabon, 95 in the
Republic of the Congo). The international team continues to work closely on both
sides of the border with the Congolese and Gabonese Ministries of Health on outbreak
control interventions.
As of 2
January 2002, 32 confirmed cases have been reported (15 by laboratory testing, 17
epidemiologically linked), including 23 deaths (17 in Gabon, 6 in the Republic of
the Congo). Of these 32 confirmed cases, 20 cases have been detected in Gabon and 12
in villages close to the border between the two countries.
An additional 10 suspected cases (8 in Gabon, 2 in the Republic of the Congo) are under
investigation.