Ebola infects Catholic priest after patients escaped as risk of spread remains ‘very high’
A CATHOLIC priest has been struck down by deadly Ebola in the same town where two infected patients escaped quarantine and attended a prayer meeting.
By Joshua Nevett
DailyStar.co.uk
25th May 2018
The priest has been quarantined after becoming infected with the lethal disease in the town of Mbandaka in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), health officials said.
“We have quarantined a priest from the diocese of Mbandaka-Bikoro who tested positive,” a health official, speaking on condition on anonymity, said.
Mbandaka, one of three health zones with confirmed Ebola cases, is where two infected patients who fled from quarantine went to a prayer session with more than 50 people.
The two dying Ebola patients, who were sneaked out of hospital by relatives, died hours after the prayer meeting in the river port city.
Victims are reportedly shunning medical advice, and turning to religion and superstition to try to rid themselves of the disease.
At least 22 people are thought to have died from the virus since the outbreak started on May 8, DRC’s health ministry said on Wednesday.
A total of 31 cases have been confirmed, with 13 probable and eight suspected, the health ministry said.
World Health Organisation officials battling to contain the highly infectious disease have said the risk of spread within DRC, where Ebola originated, remains “very high”.
WHO emergencies chief Dr Peter Salama warned on Wednesday that Ebola could spread to major cities, potentially exposing millions of people to the deadly virus.
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