Description of the situation
24 January 2002
Disease Outbreak Reported
As of 20 January 2002, 16 confirmed cases, including 11 deaths have been reported
in villages in the Republic of the Congo, close to the border between the two countries.
The international team is operational in Libreville,
Makokou and The Republic of the Congo. Discussions with the provincial and national
authorities for the return of the team to Mekambo are continuing and it is hoped the
team will go back at the earliest possible date to contain the outbreak with the local
authorities.
On 20
January 2002, the government of Gabon reported 26 confirmed cases, (10 by laboratory
testing, 16 epidemiologically linked), including 23 deaths. An additional 22
suspected cases in Gabon are under investigation.