Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
26 September 2012: An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC) has killed 32 people in Orientale Province in north-eastern Congo, according to the
World Health Organization (WHO). There are another 82 suspected cases in the country.
Ebola is a highly contagious virus that causes massive internal bleeding and kills up to 90 per cent
of its victims. The disease is spread through direct contact with the blood, saliva, sweat and other
bodily fluids of affected people. Handling the corpses of those who have died from the disease and
consuming meat from infected animals can also spread infection. There is no known cure for the
virus.
In response, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has provided nearly
US$750,000 to UN agencies to help boost Government efforts to respond to the outbreak.
WHO received nearly $490,000 to help Congolese health workers identify active Ebola cases, trace
people who may have had contact with an infected person and support the medical management
of Ebola cases.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) received $250,000 to support Government efforts to educate
communities about how the virus spreads.
Nearly 700,000 people living in Orientale Province will benefit from CERF-funded activities.