The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a new outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in Bikoro in Equateur Province. The outbreak declaration occurred after laboratory results confirmed two (2) cases of Ebola Viral Disease. 

The Maltese health authorities said they are following the current situation and are following advice from the World Health Organisation and the Health Security Committee of the European Commission.

Even if a person is living in, or has travelled to, affected areas, the risk of infection with Ebola virus is low, unless the person is directly exposed to bodily fluids of a dead or living infected person or animal. Casual contacts in public places with people that do not appear to be sick do not transmit Ebola. Unlike infections such as influenza or tuberculosis, Ebola is not spread by breathing air from an infected person. Transmission requires direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected living or dead persons or animals. It is important to note that a person who is infected is only able to spread the virus to others after the infected person has started to have symptoms.

The Maltese health authorities are hereby issuing a warning to the general public to avoid nonessential travel to the Bikoro area. If travel is unavoidable, the following advice is recommended:

·         Avoid direct contact with blood or bodily fluids of a patient or a corpse and with objects        

      possibly contaminated;

·         Avoid close contact with wild animals and consumption of ‘bush meat’;

·         Avoid having unprotected sexual intercourse;

·         Practice careful hygiene

If a person stayed in Bikoro area, he/she should contact the Public Health Authorities on 21324086 at the first sign of illness (fever, headache, achiness, sore throat, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain, rash, red eyes, and in some cases, bleeding) if this is within the 21 days of departure from the country.

Early treatment can improve prognosis.

Background information:

Bikoro is situated in Equateur Province on the shores of Lake Tumba in the North-western part of the country near the Republic of the Congo. 

Ebola is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The last Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo occurred in 2017 in Likati Health Zone, Bas Uele Province, in the Northern part of the country and was quickly controlled by joint efforts of the Government of DRC, the WHO and many different partners.