Four nurses have recovered and been discharged after receiving treatment for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
The cases were linked to the Bundibugyo strain, a rare form of Ebola currently driving the outbreak in the region.
The recoveries, confirmed at a hospital in Bunia in Ituri province, bring the total number of people who have recovered to five, following the earlier recovery of a laboratory worker. Health officials say more patients are expected to survive as early detection improves and access to treatment expands.
Despite these positive developments, the outbreak continues to spread. The number of confirmed cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 282, with 42 deaths recorded after new infections were identified in recent days. The outbreak, which has also affected neighbouring Uganda, was declared by WHO as a public health emergency of international concern earlier this month.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking during a visit to Bunia, said that although there is currently no licensed vaccine or approved specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, outcomes can improve significantly with proper care. He noted that survival is possible with timely and effective medical support.
Concerns are also increasing about the potential for the virus to spread beyond Africa. More than 1,100 suspected cases are under investigation, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, which has warned that regional transmission is already taking place.
Outside the region, travel-linked suspected cases have been reported in Brazil and Italy. In São Paulo, a patient initially suspected of having Ebola was later confirmed to have meningitis, while another case in Rio de Janeiro tested positive for malaria. However, health authorities said Ebola has not been fully ruled out in either instance.
In Italy, a suspected case triggered emergency protocols in Cagliari after a man returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo showed symptoms. He later tested negative, and officials said the risk of Ebola in the country remained very low.
The current outbreak is the 17th recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the third-largest since the virus was first identified more than 50 years ago. Health experts warn that the global response has been slower than needed, raising concerns about the ability to contain the spread as cases continue to rise.
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