Ebola alert shuts Angolan border

  1. Posted on Wednesday 7 January 2009 - 08:42
    pweto
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    Emmanuel Pweto, AfricaNews reporter in Kinshasa, DRC
    The authorities in Angola have said they have closed part of the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola virus. Angolan officials said all movement of people from northern Luande Norte province to DR Congo would be stopped.
    ebola
    The outbreak in DR Congo was the first in Africa in several months and the fourth in DR Congo since 1976.

    It is believed to have infected at least 40 people of which more than ten have died.

    "We are suspending all movement of people and trade with the DRC in the province of Lunda Norte", said Angolan Health Minister Jose Van Dunem.

    Reuters news agency reported Van Dunem as saying that no cases of Ebola had been diagnosed in Angola so far but that the Angolan military and police were on the alert for signs of the virus in the north-east border region.

    Ebola is a highly infectious fever which causes vomiting, diarrhoea, and internal and external bleeding. The disease kills 80% of those it infects and there is no known cure.

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