Five patients recovered from Ebola, discharged from DR Congo hospital

Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are celebrating after five patients, who had Ebola and have now recovered, were discharged from the hospital.

According to the officials, the current outbreak is suspected to have killed almost 250 people. 

However, those infected can recover, and officials stress that people should seek medical help if they believe they have contracted the virus.

On Sunday, a ceremony was held to honour four nurses who were discharged from a hospital in Bunia, the provincial capital of Ituri, which was the epicentre of the outbreak.

“You are living stories that this outbreak can be stopped,” World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told the four on a visit to Bunia.

“We were really demoralised because we knew that at some point… we were going to die. That was it… I’m telling you, if you have never been isolated, you will not know that it’s not easy,” Nurse Etienne Ezo told the Reuters news agency as he reflected on his experience.

According to the BBC, the first survivor, a laboratory worker, to have recovered, left hospital last week.

Health workers are on the front lines of the fight against the spread of the virus and are often the most vulnerable.

“It pains me to see health workers who have already died because of Ebola while serving others… this is the risk which comes with the profession, but your commitment and coming back again to serve means a lot,” Tedros told the four nurses, three men and one woman, at Sunday’s ceremony where they all received certificates recognising their recovery.

“This encouraging milestone bears witness to the effectiveness of field interventions: early detection, medical care, contact tracing and community engagement,” DR Congo’s Institute of Public Health wrote on social media.

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Dr Mwamba Kazadi, the organisation’s director, described the recoveries as a victory worth celebrating, emphasising the importance of early detection and effective care.

Tedros has urged communities to collaborate with medical personnel after some residents attacked health care facilities over strict burial regulations. 

The BBC further reports that the bodies of those suspected of having died from Ebola are not allowed to be handled by grieving relatives, which contradicts local traditions.

In a joint statement with the Congolese government on Sunday, he said local communities are “at the heart of the solution” and that “success” in their response depends on their trust and engagement.

“Persistent challenges include early detection and isolation of cases, contact tracing, safe and dignified burials, robust infection prevention and control in health facilities, and strong community awareness.

“The government and WHO call on all communities to continue adopting protective behaviours, including regular hand hygiene, early care seeking in health facilities, and sharing accurate information.”

(BBC News)