First case of Ebola detected in the city of Goma in Congo

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – A first case of Ebola was discovered Sunday in the eastern city of Goma, Congo, officials said, fearing the virus will spread more quickly in a densely populated area close to the Rwandan border.

Goma, a lakeside city of one million, is more than 350 km south of the second largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded a year ago. But the hemorrhagic fever gradually spread to the south, affecting nearly 2,500 people and making more than 1,600 deaths.

It was still unclear what the patient's contact with other Goma residents had been, or how long that person had stayed there, officials said. A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health said that he was trying to find details.

"This is a case of Butembo," 200 km north, said Richard Kitenge, head of Ebola efforts in Goma, adding that the patient would be returned to Butembo for treatment.

For the past year, Goma has been preparing for the Ebola virus by installing hand-washing stations and ensuring that motorbike drivers do not share their helmets.

But in more rural areas, the virus has been hard to contain. Local mistrust of health officials and militia violence have hindered containment efforts and spurred the number of new cases.

Ebola causes diarrhea, vomiting and haemorrhagic fever and can be transmitted by body fluids. An epidemic between 2013 and 2016 killed more than 11,300 people in West Africa.