Description of the situation
07 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 6 January 2002, 247 contacts are under active follow
up (213 contacts in Gabon, 34 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. The
Gabonese Red Cross Society is carrying out health education activities in the Gabonese
villages.
As of 6
January 2002, 33 confirmed cases have been reported (15 by laboratory testing, 18
epidemiologically linked), including 24 deaths (17 in Gabon, 7 in the Republic of
the Congo). Of these 33 confirmed cases, 20 cases have been detected in Gabon and 13
in villages close to the border between the two countries.
An additional 15 suspected cases in Gabon are under investigation.