Description of the situation
7 February 2003
Disease Outbreak Reported
A team from the Congolese Ministry of Health, the Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF) and WHO is travelling to Mbomo district, Cuvette Ouest region, to investigate rumours of suspected cases of acute haemorrhagic fever syndrome. Laboratory samples will be collected and tested by CIRMF in Gabon.
In December 2002, mortality was observed in gorillas and chimpanzees in the same area. Tests carried out by CIRMF confirmed an etiology of Ebola.