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KINSHASA, Congo (AP) – A Congolese woman who refused to be vaccinated against Ebola and later disappeared died of the virus near the border with Uganda, which is preparing to start vaccinations if necessary.
The confirmed death of Ebola announced by local authorities highlights the challenges that health workers are facing in an area of northeastern Congo that had never experienced an outbreak of haemorrhagic fever before. Authorities fought rumors and trained community members, including traditional healers, to calm and educate nervous residents.
The 32-year-old woman participated in the burials of other Ebola victims and health workers followed her as a possible case, but she refused to be vaccinated and disappeared from the city of Beni, said the vice governor of Ituri province. .
She died Thursday in a hospital in Tshomia, on Lake Albert.
It is Uganda that has been the closest to the confirmed death of Ebola, who said he is making arrangements with the World Health Organization to vaccinate health workers and other high-risk populations as needed. Three thousand doses of vaccine will be imported.
The Congolese Ministry of Health said Friday, there were 116 confirmed cases, including 68 deaths, linked to Ebola during the outbreak reported on August 1. More than 10,000 people were vaccinated.
Ebola surveillance has taken place at the border and Uganda is considered what the WHO calls "a very high risk".
"To date, health workers in Uganda have responded to more than 100 Ebola alerts that have proven negative for the Ebola virus," said the WHO country office.
The US health agency has not recommended any travel restrictions.
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