By RFPosted on 06-10-2019Modified on 06-10-2019 at 07:32

The Congolese government says it is seeing a reduction in the number of Ebola cases. This is indicated in a statement by the services of Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga, after a meeting with the boss of the response, Professor Muyembe. MSF remains cautious.

The Ebola outbreak has been going on for more than a year and has claimed more than 2,000 lives. But the Congolese authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) are pleased to have passed the milestone of the thousand cures.

On the side of the response, we are not very proud when we mention the 1,000 patients treated with the drug of Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe, as specified by one of his agents.

The co-discoverer of Ebola holds the patent of one of the two molecules, which the WHO recommends the use today in the DRC. It is also thanks to a better follow-up of the suspect cases, explains the coordination team.

According to the response, among the new Ebola patients, 90% had already been identified before their first symptoms, because they were in contact with confirmed cases.

33% of new Ebola cases would already be known and followed by the response

These patients also arrive more quickly in the treatment center. The average time would have been two or three days, compared to five or six months ago. However, the earlier patients take treatment, the more likely they are to heal.

On the other hand, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), a partner in the response, explains in its October bulletin that while the number of cases per week appears to be falling, mortality remains high.

The NGO continues to talk about a delay of five days between the appearance of the first symptoms and the care. And for MSF, the epidemic would be far from under control.

According to the figures published by the charity, over the last two months, only 33% of new cases of Ebola are already known and followed by the response, because they were in contact with patients already affected.

► See also: MSF accuses WHO of rationing Ebola vaccine in DRC

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