GREAT LAKES: IRIN-CEA Update 1,092

DRC: Blood samples test negative for Ebola

Fears of an Ebola outbreak in northeastern DRC have been dispelled by a
World Health Organisation investigation which found that suspected cases
of the disease were not, in fact, Ebola, the agency stated on Monday.
Blood samples from suspected Ebola victims were taken to the National
Institute of virology in South Africa, where they tested negative for the
Ebola virus, an official told IRIN. "It may take quite some time to
establish which haemorrhagic fever caused those syndromes," the official
added. There had been persistent rumours of Ebola cases in Dungu, Bengadi,
Isiro, Buta, Nyankunde and Bunia, the Inter Press agency reported on
Monday.