- ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast - Contact
with an infected gorilla triggered an ebola outbreak that killed a reported
53 people in Gabon, the World Health Organization says.
Health workers traced the outbreak back to a gorilla found in the remote
north of the central African nation, in the Ogooue-Ivindo province.
The remains tested positive for the ebola virus at a lab in France, WHO
said Tuesday.
Ebola is one of the deadliest viral diseases, causing death through massive
blood loss in up to 90 percent of those who become infected.
Aggressive rehydration therapy can save many, however.
The outbreak struck in a remote area peopled by Pygmies and other hunter
tribes. Suspicions of medical workers quickly fell upon primates, which
also can contract the virus and die of it.
Many in protein-starved central Africa eat monkeys and gorillas. Authorities
urged villagers to avoid bush meat during the outbreak.
Gabon's Health Ministry reported 65 cases, including 53 deaths, WHO said.
No new cases have been reported in the area since February.
In neighboring Republic of Congo, authorities reported 43 deaths, and at
least 12 other cases of the disease.
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